ST. LOUIS – Police are investigating after a man was shot to death during a carjacking in St. Louis’ Carondelet neighborhood.
Officers responded to the 5400 block of Idaho Avenue around 10:25 p.m. for a report of shots fired. Once on scene, they found Michael Puckett, 56, shot to death in the alley.
The suspect fled in Puckett’s red 2017 Hyundai Tucson. Anyone with information should contact CrimeStoppers at 866-371-8477.
"It's terrifying to think that something like this could happen," Louise Rusk told 5 On Your Side. "It could have happened at my house and could happen at my house."
Rusk lives right next door to Puckett and his husband. She said they were some of the first people they met when they moved to the neighborhood three or more months ago.
"They were so friendly when we first moved in," Rusk said. "They came and introduced themselves right away and chatted and visited with us and checked on us a couple of times."
Louise did not hear the gunshots Tuesday or see the police response. She said that in this kind of a situation, not even her home alarm system would have been helpful since the suspect approached Puckett in the alleyway, outside his house.
"What makes some neighborhoods safer than other neighborhoods, I'm not sure," said Rusk. "But, I think that police presence patrolling neighborhoods is an important thing, and a deterrent to people thinking they can get away with something unseen," Rusk added.
This year is the first year the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department started to keep track of carjackings. As of August 2018, there have been 222 carjacking in the city. September has not been counted for.
