November 1, 2026
UPDATE: St. Louis Metropolitan Police have confirmed that a 20-year-old man and a 16-year-old girl suffered non-life-threatening gunshot wounds after attending an apparent short-term rental party in the 5200 block of Washington. This article has been updated with the department’s November 1 report.
ST. LOUIS — Two people were shot following a Halloween gathering in St. Louis early Sunday, November 1, police confirmed, after teenagers described running for cover as gunfire erupted near a party around Washington Place and Union Boulevard.
According to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, District 5 officers responded shortly after midnight to the 5200 block of Washington following numerous calls reporting shots fired. Officers found people in the street and saw numerous people entering and leaving a residence where an apparent short-term rental party was taking place.
As officers investigated, a 20-year-old man arrived at an area hospital with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. A short time later, a 16-year-old girl arrived at a different hospital with a gunshot wound also described as non-life-threatening.
Police said both victims acknowledged attending the short-term rental party when they were shot. The department’s report did not identify who fired the shots or explain what led to the gunfire.
Teens describe running for safety
Before police confirmed the injuries, teens who said they attended the gathering told VOTP News STL that the party had been lively and peaceful until the venue became crowded. One said some guests stepped outside while others continued to arrive. Then, according to that account, a girl shouted, “He got a gun,” and gunfire followed.
Several witnesses described the shooting as a “shootout,” but police have not confirmed that multiple people exchanged gunfire. Teens described running for cover and hiding behind a building.
One witness claimed that a bookbag and nearby home were struck by bullets. The same witness said a woman placed young children into a sewer opening to protect them. Those specific accounts have not been independently confirmed.
“We were caught in the middle of an active shootout, with gunfire directly in front of us, in the alleyway, and behind the house we were hiding behind.”
Account shared by a person who said they witnessed the incident
The witness described the experience as “absolutely horrific, reckless, and life threatening.” Another account shared with VOTP News STL said, “Drac sound like the devil bangin onna door.” Police have not identified the type of firearm involved.
Some people who said they were several blocks away estimated hearing more than 100 gunshots. That estimate has not been verified, and police have not released a confirmed shot count.
Videos shared from Halloween night
These videos were submitted in connection with eyewitness accounts. They show nighttime activity and emergency lights but do not independently establish who fired or the number of shots. VOTP News STL has not independently established the precise time and location of each recording.
Video 1: Short nighttime recording shared with VOTP News STL
Video 2: Social media recording shared by a witness
Video 3: Extended street footage showing vehicles and emergency lights
Helping teens get home
After the shooting, VOTP News STL members and affiliates said they stayed nearby to check on teenagers waiting for rides, help separated friends find one another and assist those whose phones had died in contacting home.
Several teens spoke with VOTP News STL about their goals, their futures and the colleges they hoped to attend. They had come out to enjoy Halloween with friends. Instead, the evening ended with a rush for safety and the struggle to get home.
Sources: St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, “Short-Term Rental Party Ends in Shots Fired,” November 1, 2026; eyewitness accounts and submitted videos obtained by VOTP News STL. Witness claims not addressed by police remain unverified.
