ST. LOUIS — Charges have been issued against a woman after police said she shot and critically injured her coworker after an altercation at a St. Louis Family Dollar.
The St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office on Wednesday issued charges of first-degree assault, armed criminal action and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child against 22-year-old Myah Blankinship.
St. Louis police said officers responded to a report of a shooting shortly after 4 p.m. Tuesday at a Family Dollar store located at the intersection of Saint Louis and North Florissant avenues. When officers arrived, they found a 30-year-old woman lying on the ground inside the store with a gunshot wound to her face.
The victim was critically injured and taken to an area hospital for treatment, police said. She later told police she was involved in an altercation with the suspect and walked away when the suspect pulled out a handgun and shot her.
Police recovered the gun at the scene.
According to the probable cause statement, police interviewed several witnesses who said they saw the shooting. They told agents that Blankinship and the victim, who both work at the store, got into a fistfight. After the fight had been broken up, Blankinship shot the victim. Two children, who were under 17 years old, were nearby.
The fistfight was also caught on store surveillance video. Police said it showed that victim, who was unarmed, had walked away from Blankinship when she pulled out a gun from her purse, walked up to the victim and shot her. Blankinship then left the store.
Police said she eventually turned herself in to police Tuesday evening and claimed self-defense.
Blankinship remained in custody Wednesday as the investigation continues.
This is a developing story. 5 On Your Side will update this story as soon as information becomes available.
Resources for crime victims
If you have been a victim of a crime or know someone who has been, 5 On Your Side has compiled a list of resources.
The Crime Victim Center of St. Louis has multiple programs to support victims of crime. Crime Victim Center’s programs range from direct services to crime victims to “create awareness and change within the systems they encounter.”
Life Outside of Violence "helps those harmed by stabbing, gunshot or assault receive the treatment, support and resources they need to find alternatives to end the cycle of violence."
The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis has the Neighborhood Healing Network, which serves people who have experienced crime, violence or been the victim of an incident that caused trauma.
