ST. LOUIS – Just before 3 a.m. on Wednesday—closing time for The Wheelhouse in downtown St. Louis—fights involving crowds of more than two dozen people are interrupted by gunfire from a police officer from Leadington, Missouri, working security at the bar.

According to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the Leadington officer shot and killed a man who reportedly would not drop his gun. Another person was reportedly grazed by a bullet. It’s unclear who fired that round.

Alderwoman Cara Spencer wants stronger liquor license enforcement.

“We’ve seen this administration really focus on expanding and making it easier to get liquor licenses without clamping down on the bad folks that are operating businesses with disregard for the rest of the community,” Spencer said.

Wheelhouse fought with the city in 2020 over COVID restrictions. Alderwoman Spencer says it’s not just about one bar, as people in the street could have been coming from other locations.

Six months ago, several people were shot in a downtown holiday crowd after July 4 celebrations.

“No downtown should have this activity going on on a regular basis,” Spencer said.

The alderwoman is challenging St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones in the upcoming mayoral election. We asked the mayor’s office to respond.

“The reality is that earlier this year we passed an excise bill that actually gives us more authority over these types of problem establishments,” Conner Kerrigan, a spokesman for the mayor’s office, said. “The Wheelhouse example, SLMPD and Problem Properties is looking into that right now, and now we have authority to take more significant action on these types of issues.”

The Wheelhouse was not open during our latest visit, and no one has responded to several messages we left asking for comment.

The SLMPD is investigating the shooting.

You can also report issues you think deserve attention from St. Louis Excise Division or the Problem Properties unit by contacting the Citizens Service Bureau (CSB) at 314-622-4800 or online.