An attempted robbery at a south city Denny’s ended with an assailant’s death at the hands of an off-duty police officer.
Friday morning at about 1:20 a.m., Brett Holloway walked into the Denny’s at 1515 Hampton Avenue and pulled a stocking mask over his face, police say. He pointed a dark-colored handgun at the officer, who was sitting at the counter.
The officer was wearing his police uniform, working what’s called “secondary” — hired by the restaurant to act as security. Detectives aren’t sure if Holloway spotted the officer when he first walked into the restaurant.
Detectives aren’t sure if Holloway spotted the officer when he first walked into the restaurant. The unidentified officer fired several shots, police say. Holloway apparently did not fire his weapon.
After he was shot, Holloway fell behind the counter, still holding his gun, police say. The officer yelled at him to drop the gun, then fired more shots.
Holloway was taken to a hospital, where he died just after 2 a.m.
There were a few employees on site at the time of the shooting, but no customers were in the establishment. There were no additional injuries. Holloway was on parole after serving 12 years in Missouri prison for several robbery convictions out of St. Louis and St. Louis County.