Man charged for pointing weapon at suburban police

ST. LOUIS -- A man who was shot after pointing a gun at police officers was charged Saturday with flourishing a weapon.

Alexander Thomas, 19, of the St. Louis suburb of Richmond Heights, was in critical but stable condition Saturday. No one else was injured.

Police said plainclothes drug detectives were patrolling Friday night, looking for suspicious activity.

Detectives saw Thomas outside a vehicle about 11 p.m. When they identified themselves as police, Thomas reached under his jacket and took out a gun, Sgt. Sam Dotson said.

The detectives repeatedly ordered Thomas to drop the gun, but he aimed it at an officer, who shot Thomas twice, Dotson said. Thomas' loaded weapon was recovered at the scene.

Thomas was on probation for a drug conviction and had an outstanding warrant for a parole violation, police said.

The officer involved in the shooting, whose name has not been released, will be assigned to administrative duty while a standard investigation is completed.