Man shot dead by off-duty cop during brawl outside bar in downtown St. Louis, police say

ST. LOUIS — An off-duty Leadington officer working security shot and killed a man outside a downtown bar just before 3 a.m. Wednesday, police say.

St. Louis police said several off-duty officers from other departments were working secondary at The Wheelhouse and were attempting to break up a large fight outside the bar at about 2:50 a.m.

At least one off-duty officer used pepper spray while trying to break up the fight, police said.

During the fight, investigators said a 25-year-old man pulled out a gun and did not listen to an officer who told him to drop the weapon. The officer shot the man, who later died at a hospital.

The officer was not injured.

Another person, a 26-year-old man, showed up to a hospital and told doctors he was grazed by a bullet during the fight.

Authorities have not released the name of the man who was killed. St. Louis police spokesman Mitch McCoy said police were still working Wednesday afternoon to positively identify him. McCoy also said he did not anticipate the man’s name being released Wednesday.

The Leadington police officer who shot the man has 18 years of law enforcement experience, McCoy said.

Leadington is a town about 60 miles south of St. Louis in St. Francois County. It is home to around 800 residents, according to the town’s website.

The town’s police chief, Jerry Hicks, could not immediately be reached for comment Wednesday.

McCoy said The Wheelhouse is not an authorized secondary employer for SLMPD officers. He confirmed that no St. Louis or St. Louis County officers were working security there when the shooting happened.

“Force detectives investigate all use of deadly force by law enforcement within the city of St. Louis,” McCoy posted on X, formerly Twitter, early Wednesday.

The Wheelhouse describes itself online as a “party establishment” offering a sports bar vibe near both Busch Stadium and Enterprise Center.

It is located at 1000 Spruce Street.

The bar’s Facebook page promoted a sold-out New Year’s Eve event that was followed by an after-party event that began at 12:15 a.m. Wednesday.

On Instagram, the bar posted just before 9 a.m. Wednesday that it was closed “due to unforeseen circumstances.”

The post said anyone who bought tickets to the bar’s New Year’s Day brunch would be refunded.

The bar’s owners could not immediately be reached for comment. The group also owns and operates The Midwestern, a barbecue restaurant and bar located about a block from The Wheelhouse.