2 injured in shooting in The Grove in final weekend of Pride Month

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - Two women were injured early Sunday morning when a fight turned into a shooting in The Grove.

According to St. Louis police, the shooting happened around 1:30 a.m. in the area of Manchester and Sarah. Police say a 34-year-old woman pulled out a gun and fired a shot, and that shot hit another woman. Police say a 22-year-old woman, who believed her friend had been hit by the gunfire, shot at the 34-year-old woman, hitting her in the back.

Police say both women who were shot were taken to an area hospital and are in stable condition. Both women who fired shots were taken into police custody.

“Last night, during what should’ve been a joyful Pride celebration in The Grove, someone was shot just outside our doors,” Rehab Saint Louis, a bar that sits near the intersection of Manchester and Sarah, said in a Facebook post. “Our hearts go out to the victim, their loved ones, and everyone affected by this senseless violence.”

Rehab went on to say that they, and other bars in The Grove, hired armed security and had other methods of providing safety during a busy night during Pride Month.

“While fights and mayhem unfolded on the streets, the inside of our bar was filled with music, dancing, sweating, laughter, and love. The folks who came to Rehab came to celebrate Pride—not to fight, not to start trouble, and definitely not to destroy the safety of our community.

“But here’s the part that hurts: no one will talk about that.

“No one will mention the joyful, affirming environment we built for queer people and allies to just be. No one will mention the precautions we took when others didn’t. No one will mention that this was the third instance of gunfire in less than two hours, and that law enforcement didn’t intervene until someone was shot.

“We don’t say this to point fingers. We say it because it’s the truth—and someone needs to speak it. The violence that happened was tragic. But it was not the whole story. And it damn sure wasn’t the story inside our walls.”

Police confirm there were other calls for shots fired in the area earlier in the night, but there were no victims.

Chad Fox, the owner of Rehab, told First Alert 4 Manchester Avenue was not shut down as it had been in years past.

A spokesperson for St. Louis police said the department had multiple meetings with stakeholders in The Grove to discuss public safety and said, because this was not a “secured or formally permitted event,” the department had limited ability to manage crowd size and enforce safety measures.

“Our department recognizes and respects the importance of Pride celebrations in our community,” St. Louis police spokesperson Mitch McCoy said in a statement. “In the last month leading up to June 28, we met on multiple occasions with stakeholders in The Grove to discuss public safety. Unfortunately, because this was not a secured or formally permitted event, our ability to manage crowd size, ensure adequate resources, and enforce safety measures was limited.

“As attendance grew well beyond expectations and some disorderly conduct occurred. Our officers responded appropriately to protect all those present. We remain committed to working with the community in the future to ensure that large gatherings are properly coordinated, so everyone can celebrate safely.”

Kate Lindemann, a Maplewood resident visiting The Grove, said she felt frustrated about the violence distracting from the meaning of Pride.

“We’re celebrating queer people when at a time in this political climate where it may be scary to celebrate our differences and love everyone,” she said. “We should be loving everyone we know and make it a happy time rather than a sad time.”

St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer said Sunday night, Rehab and HandleBar bars and Just John nightclub will have an 11 p.m. curfew. She said the shooting was unacceptable and that everyone who celebrates in St. Louis should feel safe.

“If you join the celebrations, leave your guns at home,” she said.