ST. LOUIS — St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department say they're still looking for the suspect in a Tuesday evening homicide at Coronado Place & Towers Apartments.
The apartments where the shooting happened are steps away from Saint Louis University and considered to be off campus housing.
Police said it's unclear if the person killed at Coronado Apartments was renting or just visiting someone who lived here. However, police said he wasn't a student at SLU and had no affiliation with the university.
The department said since January 2022, they've been called to the apartments at the corner of Spring and Lindell 267 times.
The majority of the calls were for suspicious activity, stolen cars, domestic disturbances and gunshots.
The Better Business Bureau gave it a D- rating with a dozen complaints from residents in the last 12 months.
Police say they responded to the building once again Tuesday evening around 8 p.m. for a shooting.
SLU student Ben Schaefer has lived at the apartments for a year. He said he was parking his car when he saw suspicious-looking people enter the side of the building.
"About a half an hour later I went back to my apartment and I heard what I thought were two gunshots right below me," Schaefer said.
Schaefer said he felt his whole apartment shake. Police said they found a 21-year-old man shot in the chest and recovered drugs and drug paraphernalia from the scene.
Officials believe it was an isolated incident that was drug related or the result of a drug deal.
Schaefer wants more protection, saying there's only one security guard at the apartment at night, plus some of the exterior doors don't have key fob entry.
"You have a lot of activity on this corner that just isn't focused on and that can lead to dangerous situations," Schaefer said.
St. Louis Police Sgt. Charles Wall said in a weekly Wednesday crime briefing, "We are in communication with ( the Coronado Place & Tower Apartments). Any assistance we can offer to try to improve security and other things that they may be trying to work through in that facility, we're always willing to be a good partner."
Students 5 On Your Side talked with said if it wasn't for the proximity to SLU's campus and the low price they wouldn't live at the Coronado Apartments because of amount of crime.
Julian Harvey, another SLU student who also lives at the apartments, said he doesn't blame the apartments' management for the issues.
"People are just going to continue to live here no matter how bad it gets," Harvey said.
"(It's) more about the area and bigger problems in the city rather than building itself but this also doesn't happen at other places where people live," Harvey said.
Greystar, the apartment's management by phone and email, did not immediately respond to 5 On Your Side's request for comment.
SLU leaders sent an email to students, offering them counseling services if they need it.
University spokesperson Clayton Berry said, "While SLU’s Department of Public Safety does not patrol off-campus buildings, University public safety officers do patrol the campus and its borders 24/7,"
Below is the correspondence Melinda Heikkinen, assistant vice president of SLU's Department of Public Safety, sent to students this afternoon:
"Dear members of the SLU community,
"I am writing to update you on last night’s emergency notifications regarding a heavy police presence near SLU’s campus.
"At approximately 8 p.m., DPS received two notifications about shots fired near Spring Avenue and Lindell Boulevard through 911RTA, a system that alerts us about nearby 911 calls.
"DPS immediately went to the area and discovered a large police presence at the Coronado, an off-campus apartment building not owned or operated by the University.
"The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD) later confirmed that an individual not affiliated with SLU was fatally shot inside the building. The police investigation is ongoing.
"While we are thankful this incident did not directly involve any members of the SLU community, we understand that such incidents can be concerning. Please know that DPS has an excellent relationship with SLMPD, and your safety and well-being remain our top priority.
"As a reminder, the following resources are available to all students:
"The University Counseling Center (UCC) is located on the second floor of Wuller Hall. A trained and licensed staff therapist is also available 24/7 by calling 314-977-TALK (8255).
"The Eckelkamp Center for Campus Ministry, located on the first floor of Wuller Hall, can be reached at 314-977-2425.
"The Dean of Students Office in Busch Student Center, which can help students navigate campus resources, can be reached at deanofstudents@slu.edu or 314-977-9378.