Officer Daryl Hall
St. Louis, Missouri (KSDK) - St. Louis Police are mourning the loss of one of its veteran officers, following a downtown altercation in a nightclub parking lot.
St. Louis Metropolitan Police Chief Daniel Isom said the officer has been identified as 34-year-old Daryl Hall, a five year officer who worked in the Housing Authority Division of the department.
According to Chief Isom, the officer was off-duty with a girlfriend inside the club at Fourth and Gratiot Streets when an altercation between other patrons broke out and those involved were escorted from the nightclub. The suspect fired shots outside.
Police said Officer Hall heard the shots and went outside to investigate. Officer Hall saw the suspect fire the gun and announced he was a police officer and ordered the suspect to drop his weapon. The suspect refused and shots were exchanged between the suspect, Officer Hall, and a person providing security at the club.
Chief Isom says Officer Hall was struck in the neck, the side, and in the arm. He was transported to St. Louis University Hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
The suspect, Asif Blake, 30, of Hazelwood was shot multiple times. He died at the scene.
Authorities say one of the alleged gunman involved was also fatally shot in the parking lot. A third man, who Chief Isom says is alleged to have been involved in the gun battle was taken into custody. Three weapons were recovered from the crime scene.
Police said the 30-year-old security guard was questioned by police and released. He was not injured and his weapon was
also recovered at the scene.
Chief Isom says the officer who died was off the clock and out for the evening with a friend and did what police are trained to do when going outside to render assistance. The officer was not involved in the disturbance.
Officer Hall is survived by his mother, stepfather, brother and a host of other family members and friends in addition to his police family.
Chris Little, a co-owner of The Label, released a statement about the passing of Officer Hall:
"Our deepest condolences go out to Officer Hall's family for this tragic occurrence that took place last night on our door step. Officer Hall was a regular here at the Label and his friendship with us was extremely special. This tragedy has deeply hurt us as well as shed new light on the extreme issues that our community is facing each day with ignorance and crime. The Label is thankful for the work that our city officers do and takes pride in being the selected venue for the Police Officers Holiday party every year for some of the districts. God bless Officer Hall and thank you for standing up for us and our community."
KSDK