An 18-year-old identified as Carlos Jackson was shot and killed by police Thursday afternoon in the Hyde Park neighborhood after fleeing from a vehicle linked to a violent carjacking. The incident has left the community shaken and reignited concerns about youth violence and neighborhood safety.
According to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the confrontation began when officers located a stolen Ford Fusion that had been carjacked just hours earlier near Blair Avenue and Palm Street. As officers approached the vehicle, Jackson reportedly fled on foot.
During the foot pursuit, detectives say Jackson was armed and ignored commands to drop his weapon. Officers opened fire in an alley near Salisbury Street and North 20th Street after, they say, Jackson posed an immediate threat. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The department’s Force Investigation Unit is now reviewing the incident.
Residents in the area say the situation is deeply troubling—not just because of the violence, but because of the young age of the suspect. Norman King, a longtime Hyde Park resident, described the incident as a wake-up call for the neighborhood.
“It’s alarming, bothersome, and worrisome. We consider this a quiet neighborhood, but when it strikes close to home, you become concerned,” King told reporters. He added that a recent carjacking involving an elderly neighbor had already prompted the formation of a neighborhood block unit to share information and push for more support from City Hall and law enforcement.
King emphasized the broader challenges contributing to rising youth violence.
“They’re not fulfilling their roles as parents. It’s likely a deficiency in parenting, primarily because someone raised these individuals, and their actions or inactions reflect that,” he said. “It’s a community-wide parenting issue that we must tackle collectively.”
He also called on city leaders to take more proactive steps to provide resources and mentorship opportunities for at-risk youth before more lives are lost.
As the investigation continues, community members hope the tragedy leads to action, not just reflection.
