St. Louis County releases video from deadly Maryland Heights Walgreens shooting after 2025 armed encounter
Video release outlines timeline of Nov. 30, 2025 incident at Dorsett Road store
St. Louis County police have released video connected to a fatal officer-involved shooting at a Walgreens in Maryland Heights, providing a clearer timeline of events that ended with a 23-year-old man dead. The shooting occurred on Nov. 30, 2025, at the store in the 12500 block of Dorsett Road.
Police said officers were dispatched at about 6 p.m. after reports that an armed man had entered the store carrying a pistol. The released footage includes surveillance video from inside the Walgreens and portions of the law enforcement response described by investigators.
What police say the video shows inside the store
Investigators identified the man as Jacob Mercer, 23. Police said surveillance video shows Mercer walking to a cooler, removing a drink, and then sitting in the pharmacy area while awaiting police arrival.
Two Maryland Heights police officers later confronted Mercer in the pharmacy area, police said. Officers ordered him to put down the gun and show his hands, according to investigators. Police said Mercer did not comply.
Exchange of gunfire and fatal shot
Police said Mercer fired at the officers during the encounter. One officer returned fire but did not hit Mercer, investigators said. Police said officers again ordered Mercer to drop his gun, but that he fired two additional shots.
Police said an officer fired again, striking Mercer. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Date and location: Nov. 30, 2025; Walgreens in the 12500 block of Dorsett Road, Maryland Heights.
Initial call: Report of an armed man entering the store around 6 p.m.
Police account of encounter: Officers issued commands to drop the gun and show hands; police said Mercer fired at officers and the officer returned fire, ultimately striking him.
Investigative findings referenced by police
St. Louis County police said their investigation found social media profiles associated with Mercer that showed suicidal ideation. Police also reported that a suicide note was found at Mercer’s home.
The released material is intended to document what occurred in the Walgreens pharmacy area, including the moments leading to the shooting.
Officer information
Police said the officer who fired the fatal shot was 31 years old and had four years of law enforcement experience. The broader investigation remains tied to the circumstances of the encounter and the sequence of actions captured on video.
Officer-involved shootings in St. Louis County are typically reviewed through investigative processes that examine evidence, witness accounts, and available video to determine how events unfolded and whether policies and laws were followed.