ST. LOUIS COUNTY - Two Hazelwood Police officers fatally shot a man Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026, after officers attempting to serve a mental health warrant encountered him at a Wellston business, according to the St. Louis County Police Department.

St. Louis County detectives are investigating the shooting, which occurred after the man barricaded himself inside an excavator and destroyed property at the business in the 1200 block of Sutter Avenue, police said.

North County Police Cooperative officers arrived to serve the warrant at 1:05 p.m. Thursday. The man refused to comply with officers’ requests and barricaded himself inside the excavator, according to police.

At about 3:30 p.m., cooperative officials requested assistance from the St. Ann Multi-Jurisdictional Special Response Team, which includes officers from area departments. Team members continued trying to negotiate with the man, but he remained noncompliant and continued destroying property, police said.
Officers unsuccessfully attempted to subdue him using less-lethal means before two Hazelwood officers assigned to the response team fired their service weapons, striking him, according to police. The department did not specify what less-lethal methods were used.

The man was taken to an area hospital, where he died. No officers were physically injured. Both Hazelwood officers are 28 years old. One has four years of law enforcement experience, and the other has eight years.

The St. Louis County Police Department’s Bureau of Crimes Against Persons, Force Investigative Team is handling the investigation at the cooperative’s request. Police said the investigation remains active and preliminary details could change.
Anyone with information can contact county police at 636-529-8210.

Those wishing to remain anonymous or potentially receive a reward can contact CrimeStoppers at 1-866-371-TIPS (8477).

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