FENTON, Mo. – Last Friday, St. Louis County police shot and killed a man in his Fenton home after reporting he allegedly pulled out a gun.

The incident occured on Hawkins Bend Drive in a subdivision West of 141 just after 10 a.m.

Sgt. Panus said the man was about to be arrested for first-degree harassment. Officials claim that they entered the man’s house and had a verbal exchange, which turned deadly. 

“The suspect did pull out a firearm, and the officers, as well as the suspect, struggled over that firearm,” Sgt. Tracy Panus added. “Eventually, both of our officers fired on the suspect, killing him on the scene.”

In the aftermath, neighbors said he was a doctor and was going through a divorce. 

The following day, March 22, police released the identity of the man, who was named Aleksandr Lanis, 38.

Now, his estranged wife’s family has made a statement regarding the fatal Fenton officer-involved shooting.

The Smith family released a statement, saying:

“On March 21, our lives changed forever. We are grieving this loss not only ourselves, but for Aleks’s family as well. This was not the outcome we ever wanted in what was a very challenging situation. We also want to thank all of the first responders involved for their courage and professionalism. We are asking for privacy as we search for the words and strength to help a 4-year-old boy understand what happened to his father as we continue to process this as well.”

According to court and police documents, Lanis was recorded attempting to put something in a gas tank of a Smith family member’s car at an event his wife was attending. The court and police documents reveal that was the specific incident that officials were intending to arrest Lanis for.

Lanis’ wife also had an order of protection against him, but it was dismissed when a divorce agreement was reached. 

That agreement required Lanis to stay away from his wife, not possess guns and exchange their child at their school or a police station. Lanis allegedly violated the agreement by tampering with the Smith family’s car, presumably knowing his wife was present at the event, the documents say.

The documents also stated that Lanis was not fighting for child custody and the couple was negotiating a joint custody agreement.