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ST. LOUIS (AP) — St. Louis County Police have shot and killed a man they say pointed an assault rifle at them.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that police haven't released the man's identity. Police spokesman Randy Vaughn says officers had gone to question the man early Saturday about a stolen car. Vaughn says when two officers arrived at the man's apartment, he opened the door holding an assault rifle and "racked it, chambering a round."

Both officers then fired at the man, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Vaughn says police recovered the rifle and several other weapons from the man's home.

Vaughn says the officers are on administrative leave until the investigation is completed.

   One man is dead, shot by police after allegedly pulling a gun on officers near downtown St. Louis Wednesday night.  It happened about 9:30 p.m. at 8th and Carr, about a block north of the Edward Jones Dome, which is a hot spot policing area.  

   Police say two men were in a car that sped away when police tried to pull it over.  Police pursued until it crashed.  

   The 25 year old passenger took off on foot.  Two officers chased him.  

   Police say the suspect pulled out a .45-caliber pistol with extended clips and pointed it them.  That's when they shot him.  The suspect died after being taken to a hospital.  

   The car's driver was taken into custody at the crash scene.  

   Both officers involved in the foot chase have been placed on routine administrative leave. 

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (AP) - A southwestern Illinois prosecutor says a sheriff's deputy was justified in fatally shooting an armed man during a confrontation two months ago.

Madison County State's Attorney Tom Gibbons says the deputy's actions involving 51-year-old Barry Cloninger outside the man's rural Edwardsville home in January were reasonable.

Gibbons says neighbors had called authorities to report the odor of lighter fluid in their home and snowy footprints on their roof, which is easily accessible because the home is built into a hillside. The residents have a wood-burning stove and suspected someone poured the flammable liquid down their chimney.

Gibbons says deputies went to question Cloninger, who refused demands that he drop the shotgun he carried. After being shot by the deputy, Cloninger's body was found behind the home.

Authorities are identifying the man shot to death by two St. Louis police officers during Mardi Gras as 32 year old Otis Roberson.

Witnesses told police that Roberson had been brawling with another man and then pulled a gun, firing at least one shot into the air.

St. Louis Police Lt. Col. Lawrence O’Toole says two St. Louis police officers had been patroling nearby when they heard the shot. When arrived, the officers ordered Roberson to drop his gun, but instead he turned and pointed the weapon at police. O'Toole says both officers fired several shots, striking Roberson. The North County man later died at the hospital.

Mardi Gras Inc. spokesman Mack Bradley praised the officers for acting appropriately. Both officers had been working for Mardi Gras Inc. under a secondary employment agreement allowing police to work extra jobs during their off hours. Both are veterans with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, one with 22 years on duty and the other with 33 years on the force. Both have been placed on routine administrative leave.

This is the first fatal shooting in the Soulard festival's 34 year history.

St. Louis police reported that 80 people were arrested during the Mardi Gras celebrations in Soulard Saturday. Seventy-six of them were juveniles arrested for consumption of alcohol by a minor.

ST. LOUIS (AP) - A suspect is dead after being shot and killed by police in St. Louis.

The shooting happened Thursday night near the Mississippi River. The suspect is identified as 32-year-old Jason Noroian of Des Peres.

Police say Port Authority officials reported two suspicious vehicles. After they were stopped, officers learned that an occupant of one of the vehicles had a warrant out for his arrest.

As the officer approached to arrest the man, he allegedly reached for the officer's gun and got it out of the holster. The men struggled and the officer tried to shoot, but the gun misfired.

When the man reached again for the gun, the officer fired again, hitting the man in the side. He died at a hospital.

An internal investigation is under way.

A suspected drug dealer is dead after he was shot by police on the St. Louis riverfront. It happened at Leonor K. Sullivan and Biddle about 6 o'clock Thursday evening.

Police say it began when the Port Authority spotted a suspicious vehicle in the area. When police ran the plates, they discovered several outstanding warrants.

Police say the suspect tried to grab an officer's gun as he approached the vehicle. There was a struggle and the officer fired one shot, hitting the man in the chest.

The suspect was rushed to the hospital where he died. His name hasn't been released.

Police say they found a gun in the suspect's vehicle.

The 28-year-old officer is now on routine administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation. St. Louis Police Captain Michael Sack says the officer has been on the force for about two years.

This is the second officer involved shooting in the City of St. Louis this year.