ST. LOUIS—A teen who escaped police custody while handcuffed is still on the run, but he is no longer considered a person of interest in the homicie investigation of a gas station clerk. 

Police are still actively searching for Jataveion Scott, 19, who is wanted for tampering with a motor vehicle and escaping custody. 

Scott was named a person of interest following Tuesday morning's shooting at a BP gas station on Hampton Avenue. Iyaz Ahmed, 22, was an employee at the gas station. He was pronounced dead at a St. Louis hospital. 

Sgt. Charles Wall with St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department said police have interviewed other individuals about the incident and were trying to take Scott into police headquarters to question him when he escaped.

Officers were escorting Scott to the cruiser when he was able to run off, according to police. He was still handcuffed as he ran through the Peabody Housing Complex. While it is unclear what time Scott escaped, Sgt. Wall told the media during a noon briefing that the department worked to get the information out quickly, not a delay of several hours like some may have indicated. 

When it comes to a motive in the shooting, Wall said investigators are still piecing that together.

After the incident, police said they were searching for three suspects but did not provide descriptions.

Sgt. Wall said the gas station does have footage and investigators are looking through it for information.

Anyone with information is asked to call the department’s Homicide Division at 314-444-5371 or CrimeStoppers at 866-371-8477.