Crime
Former Mercy Physician Fatally Shot by St. Louis County Police During Warrant Service in Fenton
Fenton, MO – A former physician at Mercy Health was shot and killed by St. Louis County police officers on Friday morning after an attempted arrest escalated into a fatal confrontation.
The deceased, identified as 38-year-old Aleksandr Lanis, was the subject of an arrest warrant for first-degree harassment.
Officers arrived at approximately 10 a.m. at a residence in the 1000 block of Hawkins Bend Drive to serve the warrant when the situation turned violent.
According to police, officers made contact with Lanis at the door of the home, where a verbal exchange ensued.
The encounter quickly escalated into a physical struggle when Lanis allegedly brandished a firearm.
In response, both officers discharged their weapons, striking and fatally wounding him. A firearm was recovered at the scene.
One of the officers sustained a non-gunfire-related hand injury during the altercation but was treated at the scene and did not require hospitalization.
The officers involved in the shooting have been identified as a 30-year-old with seven years of service and a 22-year-old who has been with the department for one year.
Neighbors in the area expressed shock following the incident. “We heard about 15 shots,” one resident recalled. “I didn’t even know he had weapons. He mostly kept to himself.”
Authorities confirmed that Lanis shared the home with a woman who was in the process of divorcing him.
She and their young child were not present at the time of the shooting.
Mercy Health acknowledged that Lanis had previously been employed as a physician but declined to disclose the timeframe of his tenure with the organization.
The investigation into the officer-involved shooting is ongoing.
TAUNTON, Mass. — One person was killed and seven others were injured in an overnight shooting at a house party in Taunton, Massachusetts, authorities said.
The shooting happened at approximately 12:35 a.m. Sunday at a residence in the 261 Weir Street area. Taunton police officers responded after receiving multiple 911 calls reporting gunshots.
When officers arrived, they found several people suffering from gunshot wounds. Investigators were also informed that additional victims had already been transported to area hospitals for medical treatment.
Authorities ultimately identified eight shooting victims, all of whom were reportedly in their early 20s.
One of the victims, 22-year-old Zirovick Depina of Brockton, was pronounced dead early Sunday morning, according to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office.
Of the seven surviving victims, one remains in serious but stable condition, while the others suffered injuries that were considered non-life-threatening. Their identities have not been publicly released.
The shooting occurred during a gathering at the residence. Images from the scene showed a tent and tables in the yard, along with white balloons and what appeared to be a photo backdrop near a garage.
A neighbor told authorities that large gatherings and loud parties had reportedly been common at the residence.
The home is located about a mile from the Taunton Police Department headquarters. The neighbor expressed concern about the shooting occurring in the area, particularly given the late-night activity.
The investigation is being conducted by Taunton Police, Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office, and other investigative units. Detectives are working to determine what led to the gunfire and identify those responsible.
Anyone with information about the shooting is urged to contact Taunton police or investigators with the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office.
The investigation remains active and ongoing, and additional information is expected as authorities continue gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses.