Off-Duty St. Louis Officer Killed in Gunfight Outside Nightclub

St. Louis Metro Police Officer Daryl Hall died early Sunday morning from wounds suffered in a gunfight outside a nightclub where he had intervened while off duty, the agency announced.

Officers responded to the Black Label Nightclub at about 2:38 a.m. to find Hall, 34, mortally wounded. The officer had headed out of the club, where he was a patron, after hearing gunshots. Officer Hall witnessed Asif Blake, 30, firing a handgun and identified himself as an officer. Blake and the officer then exchanged fire with a security guard at the club.

Blake was struck several times and died at the scene. Officer Hall was transported for medical care and expired.

Officer Hall joined the department in November of 2005 as a civilian "recruit in training." On July 13, 2006, he graduated from the St. Louis Police Academy as a commissioned officer. During his career with the department, Officer Hall served as a Sixth District patrolman. At the time of his death he was assigned to the Housing Authority unit.

He is survived by his mother, stepfather, and brother.