A man who refused to drop a knife was fatally shot Friday by police inside an airport terminal in St. Louis, Missouri, police said.
Police discovered a man grasping a knife while completing standard security checks inside St. Louis Lambert International Airport’s (STL Airport) Terminal 1 around 1:05 a.m. Friday, a St. Louis County Police Department (SLCPD) spokesperson said at a press conference. Police allegedly instructed the unidentified man to drop the knife but he refused.
“When the officers tried to get that person to leave, he refused to drop the knife and started to come at the officers. And less lethal was used, they did tase him first. They tried to use a taser. That individual continued to advance towards officers, and a second officer did fire his service weapon, injuring the suspect, and unfortunately, that suspect is deceased at this time,” the spokesperson said.
There are no other reports of injuries as a result of the incident, according to KSDK. The STL Airport officers involved in the shooting had prior law enforcement service and have served on the force for six months and one year respectively. (RELATED: Sober College Football Player Arrested For DUI After Blowing 0.0 On Breathalyzer)
STL Airport CEO and Airport Director Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge issued a statement on the incident obtained by the outlet. “Today’s incident at Terminal 1 was a tragic event for our Airport Community. However, I take great pride in our response. As police responded and county authorities conducted their investigation, we were able to continue normal operations at STL,” she said.
The director noted that the airport was cooperating with SLCPD amid the active investigation.
The Terminal 1 MetroLink Station was briefly closed due to the incident, according to an X post from STL Airport. “MetroLink Advisory: T1 Station is Closed. MetroLink will drop off passengers at the T2 Station and use shuttles T2/Door 2 on the upper level. T1 pick-up is at Door 6 on the upper level,” the post indicated.
The T1 MetroLink Station reopened at approximately 7:00 a.m., KSDK reported.
The Daily Caller contacted St. Louis Lambert International Airport, who did not immediately comment on the incident.