The gunman, Charles Thornton, entered the city council buildings Thursday at around 7 p.m. local time in the suburb of Kirkwood, yelling "shoot the mayor." He then fired at police and around 30 people, including Mayor Mike Swoboda, who were taking part in the council meeting.
Local media reported that the Mayor was critically injured in the shooting. Police shot and killed Thornton.
St. Louis police spokesman Tracy Panus told journalists that Thornton, who was known to the local authorities, shot and killed a police officer outside the building before firing on a further six people, who were all inside the council buildings.
According to journalist Janet McNichols, who was at the meeting for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Thornton had a history of disrupting meetings. He apparently had a grudge with local authorities over parking fines and had filed several lawsuits.
