ST. LOUIS — A man was shot Friday morning during a break-in of his home, St. Louis police say.
The shooting happened shortly after 8:30 a.m. in the 4200 block of Humphrey Street in the Tower Grove South neighborhood.
Police said early investigation suggests two suspects broke into the man's home and shot him. The victim was conscious and breathing when he was taken to the hospital by EMS.
Neighbors told 5 On Your Side the gray house where the shooting happened had been problematic for years.
Birds chirping and the making of a manicured lawn is the peace Tom Ellebract and his neighbors in south St. Louis have longed for.
“I was sitting drinking a cup of coffee. Heard about six or seven shots. Five minutes later, I heard sirens. It was scary,” Ellebract said.
He and other neighbors explained that the owner of the home had moved out recently and let his daughter stay at the property. They added that she brought a “disturbing crowd with her” who lingered when she left.
“They're out there at three o'clock in the morning. Front and back arguing, fighting,” Ellebract said.
St. Louis Police noted they received and responded to two calls at the house in the last year, one for a disturbance and the other for foot patrol.
A week ago, a nuisance letter was posted on the property, but the trouble still persisted.
"I'd like to see maybe the courts get some new laws passed where they can you know force these people out because I know right now they haven't forced them out once," Ellebract said.
5 On Your Side took residents' concerns to the city which deals with the issuance of a cease-and-desist order.
A spokesperson confirmed the property was currently under notice and they met with the owner regarding the problems in early February -- to which he agreed to keep things in check.
They added that the Problem Properties Taskforce would consistently monitor the property and that the owner would be responsible if disturbances keep happening.
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