ST. LOUIS – A shooting at a short-term rental party over the weekend in Soulard has left a teen critically injured.
The shooting occurred in the 800 block of Russell Blvd. Saturday night, all captured on camera. Around 10 bullets riddled through the door, but at least 75 shots were fired.
When police arrived at the scene, they discovered a 17-year-old injured.
Surveillance video shows dozens of teens running from the scene after the gunfire could be heard. A local bar on the same street, Hammerstones, had a packed building with customers as the incident unfolded.
“Hearing it, (I) was in disbelief; a lot of people around me thought it was fireworks at first, and once we realized it was gunshots, it was a totally different mindset,” Audrey Hammerstone, owner, said. “Tons of rounds shot off, then there was a pause, and you think it’s over; but then it keeps going, which was kind of scary. It was absolutely terrifying for everyone around.”
Alderwoman Cara Spencer (Ward 8) represents Soulard. She says it has been more than a year since Mayor Tishaura Jones signed legislation into law that regulates the short-term rental industry.
Spencer added that this shooting brings up renewed questions about the safety of the properties, citing the city for taking too long.
“We passed tougher regulations over a year ago, went through the board of aldermen, was approved, and was really supposed to be in place by now. Unfortunately, we are seeing that the building division, the entity given the responsibility of regulating these (properties), didn’t have the tools they need. Here we are a year later, just now opening the application process to get these things under control,” Spencer said.
New regulations for short-term rental properties in St. Louis require owners to follow stricter rules based on the size and occupancy of their building.