St. Louis police shoot, kill suspect

CLAYTON, Mo. -- A man suspected of assaulting his girlfriend was shot and killed by St. Louis County police Monday after trying to run over two officers, police said.

The incident began at around 3:45 a.m. when police were called about a disturbance at a convenience store in south St. Louis County, police Lt. Jon Belmar said. Officers were told a man had assaulted his girlfriend and then stolen her Ford Expedition.

"It has been a troubled relationship," Belmar said of the couple, noting that the woman had previously reported problems with Simon. He did not discuss details of the previous reports.

Officers found the stolen SUV at around 5:15 a.m. on the parking lot of a Dierberg's grocery store and tried to apprehend the driver. As officers approached, the driver placed the vehicle in reverse and drove toward one officer, then placed it in drive and steered toward another officer, police spokesman Mason Keller said.

Fearing for their lives, the officers fired at the driver, who was shot as the SUV struck the police car where the second officer was initially standing, Keller said. Simon was pronounced dead at the scene.

Simon was a suspect in an assault on July 17 but had not been arrested, Belmar said. Simon was also confronted by police Sunday morning at a St. Louis County motel, where he flourished a .38-caliber pistol, Belmar said. He escaped on foot.

Both officers involved in the shooting were placed on administrative leave pending an investigation. Belmar said both had been with the department for five to 10 years with no record of disciplinary problems.

St. Louis County has had about a half-dozen incidents in the past three years where suspects have been shot, Belmar said.