Image via City of Lakeshire Police
A Lakeshire man was shot dead by police after he attacked his sister and nephew with a hammer and knife, authorities say.
Update 9:08: Police have identified the suspect in the attack as Jacob Hohman.
A man wielding a claw hammer and knife brutally attacked his adult sister and 12-year-old nephew before he was gunned down by police Thursday night in south St. Louis County, authorities said.
The woman was lying in the doorway of the family’s home about 10:40 p.m. when cops from Lakeshire and the county arrived and discovered the gruesome scene.
The 30-year-old suspect, hammer in hand, then charged a Lakeshire police sergeant, who fired twice, knocking him to the ground, police said. The man allegedly stood, raised the hammer above his head and charged toward a county officer, who fired six shots, dropping him for the last time, police said.
Officers at the scene began first aid, and paramedics took him to the hospital, where he died.
The sister and her boy were both badly wounded in the attack. She had blunt force trauma to the head and slashes across the throat and face. Police found defensive wounds on her hands.
The 12-year-old had a large cut on his back, more on his arms, defensive wounds to his hands and blunt force trauma behind his ear, authorities said. The boy had been able to escape the frightening attack and run to a neighbor's house for help. He and his mother were hospitalized in stable condition.
Detectives were hoping to interview the woman, but she was headed into surgery on Friday morning, police said.
“Hopefully she can shed some light on what started all this chaos last night,” St. Louis County Sgt. Brian Schellman said.
Detectives were still checking to see if they’d had any prior calls at the home in the 10100 block of Puttington Drive, which is just off Tesson Ferry Road near Affton. The suspect, who wasn't immediately identified, did not have any criminal history, authorities said.
The officers who shot him were both veterans, police said. The Lakeshire sergeant has been on the job 44 years, and the county officer has eight years experience. Both were placed on administrative leave pending an investigation, which is department policy.
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