Discharge of a Firearm

Discharge of a Firearm
Date & Time Occurred: 04/09/2025 8:15 pm
Date & Time Reported: 04/09/2025 8:15 pm
Location: Taylor Ave.,  Clayton Ave., City Street Off Campus
Synopsis:  A WUSM employee called Protective Services from his residence just south of campus near S. Taylor Ave. and Chouteau Ave. to report that he observed two male subjects shooting firearms into the air. The employee observed the subjects use the pedestrian bridge over Hwy 40 to access the Medical School campus.  Protective Services and BJH Public Safety officers immediately canvassed the area to look for the subjects. Officers located the subjects near the Euclid Meters. Both subjects fled on foot, pursued by both Protective Services and BJH Public Safety.  The subjects split up and officers briefly lost sight of one of them in the 4500 block of Clayton Ave. However, officers located a backpack that one of the subjects had been carrying. The backpack contained a rifle and an identification card.

Officers were able to stop and detain the second subject in the 700 block of S. Euclid Ave. Officers recovered a handgun from the bushes near the subject. The subject admitted that the firearm was his and that he had fired it twice.

BJH Public Safety officers reported that they located the second subject who was also carrying a firearm. They detained him at the corner of S. Taylor Ave. and Clayton Ave. Protective Services officers responded and determined the subject was a juvenile and not involved in the initial incident. However, due to the juvenile being in possession of a firearm, he was detained and the SLMPD was called.

Officers reviewed CCTV footage to assist in locating the second subject. He was located hiding in some bushes in the 4500 block of Clayton Ave. The subject was taken into custody without incident. He later admitted that the backpack and the rifle within belonged to him. He admitted to firing 3 shots with the rifle.

The SLMPD arrived on scene. They determined the juvenile was not involved and was allowed to leave the area with his firearm. They further determined the subjects taken into custody by Protective Services and BJH Public Safety were not felons. The recovered firearms were not reported as stolen. The SLMPD released both subjects from custody and returned the firearms to them. At the request of Protective Services, the SLMPD removed the subjects from campus before returning the firearms.

Disposition: Referred to the SLMPD. Subjects Released from Custody.