Black Off-Duty St. Louis Cop Shot By On-Duty Officer Who Did Not Recognize Him: Police

ST. LOUIS, MO — An off-duty black St. Louis police officer was shot by a on-duty white officer who police say "feared for his safety" as he did not recognize the off-duty officer at the scene of a crime where other members of the force had told the off-duty cop to get off the ground after recognizing him.

Around 10 p.m. Wednesday, detectives were told that a vehicle reported stolen had been detected by a license plate reader. Officers deployed spikes and activated their emergency lights to stop the vehicle, police said in a statement.

Police said that three suspects in the stolen vehicle began firing at the officers, striking their vehicles. Officer followed the stolen vehicle before it crashed and the suspects, who police say were armed, fled on foot. One of the suspects was shot by an officer in the ankle, police said.

An off-duty officer who was inside him home at the time heard the commotion and responded with his department-issued weapon. Two officer ordered the off-duty officer to the ground and when they recognized him they ordered the officer to stand up and walk towards them, police said. It was then that the on-duty officer who had just arrived in the area shot the off-duty officer in the arm, police said.

The off-duty officer has since been treated and released from the hospital. Two of the suspects were taken into custody and a third remains at large.

Police said they recovered two firearms from the suspects.

The off-duty officer who was shot is 38-years-old and has been with the department for 11 years. The officer who fired at the off-duty cop is 36-years-old and has been with the department for over eight years.

Seven officers have been placed on administrative leave per department policy. The investigation is ongoing.

Image via Shutterstock