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St. Louis officer fatally shoots suspect holding screwdriver

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ST. LOUIS — A St. Louis police officer shot and killed a burglary suspect after the man lunged at him while holding a screwdriver, authorities said.

Police Chief John Hayden said the shooting happened around 5:30 a.m. Sunday while officers were searching a building in the 4400 block of Gravois in south St. Louis. Hayden said arriving officers heard what appeared to be the sound of power tools being used inside the building.

An officer encountered two suspects in the building and fired at one of the men several times after he charged at the officer while holding a screwdriver, Hayden said.

The man who was shot died later, accordingto the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The other suspect fled, and Hayden said police still were searching for him Sunday morning.

Hayden said the officer who fired the shots has been with the department about 13 years, and he is 41 years old.

The building that was being burglarized had been used for storage. Hayden said the private storage facility has a history of burglaries.