ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department is investigating three separate shootings that left three different men injured Sunday night.
The shootings happened from 4:30-9:45 p.m. Sunday, St. Louis police said.
Two of the shooting happened outside gas stations.
The first shooting happened at about 4:30 p.m. at the Conoco gas station located at 3165 S. Kingshighway Boulevard, blocks away from Tower Grove Park near Central Visual Performing Arts High School. There, police said a 21-year-old man was inside the gas station, when another person came inside the store and fired gunshots at the man. The person left the store, when the man followed and exchanged gunshots with the person in the parking lot of the gas station. The man was shot multiple times and dropped off by three other victims who were not injured, police said.
The second shooting happened just three hours later at about 8:40 p.m.
Police said a 21-year-old man was stopped at a stop light at the intersection of Riverview Boulevard and McLaran Avenue in north St. Louis, when he heard a gunshot. The man said he sped up and shot back at the person once, but hit several parked cars in the process. The man was shot once in the neck and had stable vital signs when he was taken to the hospital by EMS.
The third and final shooting happened at about 9:45 p.m., at the Salama Market gas station located at 1513 N. 13th Street.
At the shooting scene, police said they found a 50-year-old man with a gunshot injury to his leg. The victim originally said he was shot during an attempted carjacking, but investigation showed the man had gone to the gas station with the suspect.
Upon getting to the gas station, the suspect got out of the man's car and came back a little later. Police said a struggle started between the suspect and the victim while in the car together. During the fight, police said the victim crashed into a parked car outside the store, and attempted to get the suspect out of his car from the back, when he was shot by the suspect.
Police said the suspect left the scene on foot. The victim was taken to the hospital and listed with stable vital signs.
No additional information was released about the shootings.
Resources for crime victims:
If you have been a victim of a crime or know someone who has been, 5 On Your Side has compiled a list of resources.
Better Family Life is a nonprofit community development organization working to "stabilize inner-city neighborhoods." One aspect of its mission is a gun violence de-escalation program.
Life Outside of Violence "helps those harmed by stabbing, gunshot or assault receive the treatment, support and resources they need to find alternatives to end the cycle of violence."
The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis has an anti-crime program called “Safety Net for Youth Initiative,” which is a joint partnership with St. Louis Public Schools to provide services to at-risk youth.
Cure Violence is an international organization that has recently launched in a handful of St. Louis neighborhoods. Violence interrupters are trained to de-escalate violent situations within their own communities
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