Kirkwood, MO Officer Down

[OspreyPhan]

From kmov.com



An officer with the Kirkwood Police Department died Tuesday evening after he was shot while on duty.

Sgt. William McEntee, a 24-year veteran, was responding to a fireworks-related disturbance call in the 400 block of Alsobrook near Interstate 44 and Big Bend when he was shot several times.

He was taken to St. John's Mercy Medical Center where he later died.

Police say the suspect in the case walked up to McEntee's patrol car when he arrived on the scene and began shooting.

A second person also was wounded, but police say that victim is a juvenile so no details or updates on the victim's condition were released.

A manhunt was under way Tuesday for the shooter. The suspect is reportedly armed and dangerous.

About a dozen area departments were involved in the search, including helicopter and K9 units.

More information will be released as it becomes available in the case.

[pkagel]

I'll be praying for the officer's and other vicitim's families. Hopefully they catch this waste of flesh soon and put him where he belongs.

[Ruh]

All I can say about this tragedy is WOW.

I live in Kirkwood and KPD is my number one choice place to work. I know a few officers from the department from school and rides that I have gone on. I am also almost certain that I went to HS with the suspect. Plan to look through year books later to double check.

After encouragement from an officer I met on another forums I plan to attend the funeral or at the least do something. If anyone can suggest anything please PM with places to start aside from just attending the funeral or other memorial services.

I can also say as a local person the civilial speculation and gossip is already making me sick. My fiancee's brother is attending summer classes and the kids were talking in class about the incident. Some of who were "witnesses" to the incident. The way they portray the incident the officer was harassing the guy about his dead brother or something of that and already the rumor mills a churning to tarnish the name of the fallen officer. All I can say is that it ****es me off and makes me sick at the same time.

It's said to say that I don't think there will ever be a day that an officer will give his life in the line of duty and not be called to question about his intentions, character, or his integrity.

[Ruh]

update!

As I mentioned earlier I was almost positive that the suspect was someone I went to HS with. They have released his name and pictures and I am now more than ever convinced that he is in fact someone I went to HS with. I asked my fiancee if she recognized the guy and before she even knew what the picture was in relation to she said "yea I know him he went to our HS" then I told her what the story was about and her jaw dropped. After talking I have more connection to this guy than I would ever want. The suspect was also on the schools football team, knew my fiancee, and if he graduated I am sure I was there. I knew the name and face right off from reading the article so I wouldn't be surprised if I had a class with him.

I also now remember meeting Sgt. McEntee briefly on my last ride. The officer was huge, not in a slobby way but huge as in big and musclular type. The thing I remember most after his size is that he was nice and held the door for me as me and the officer I was riding with left the station. I was riding during the afternoon shift and he was just getting off of day shift I believe.

If you click the link make sure to watch the video clip
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SOURCE
A Kirkwood police sergeant died Tuesday night, several hours after being shot at an apartment complex near Interstate 44 and Big Bend Road.

Segeant William McEntee spent more than 20 years on the Kirkwood police force, and is the first Kirkwood officer killed since 1900 in the line of duty.

The attack happened in the 300 block of Alsobrook. Sgt. McEntee was shot in the head.

Police say he was responding to a fireworks call, and was talking to a 13-year-old male. McEntee was sitting in his car talking to the teen, who was standing outside the driver's side door.

Police say 19-year-old Kevin Johnson walked up along the passenger side of the car and started firing into the car, hitting McEntee and also hitting the 13-year-old boy in the leg. The teen's injuries are not considered life threatening.

Witnesses say McEntee's car, which was in gear, sped into a tree. Johnson then allegedly walked up to the car and fired shots at Sgt. McEntee from a close range, then took McEntee's service weapon and left.

Johnson' vehicle, a white Ford Explorer, was later found in a Ferguson apartment complex.

Heavily armed officers raced to the scene, but were unable to find Johnson. Police say he should be considered armed and very dangerous. Johnson has not been charged in the case.

Johnson is described as 5'7" and 160 lbs. He is known to have lived in the 400 block of Saratoga. He has some tattoos pictured on the left.

St. Louis County Police have taken over the investigation.

The family has released funeral arrangements for Sgt. McEntee. Visitation will be Friday from 2-9 p.m. at Kutis Funeral Home, at 10151 Gravois. The funeral service will start with a 10:15 a.m. prayer service, followed by the funeral at 11 a.m. at St. Simon the Apostle Catholic Church in south St. Louis County. The church is at 11011 Mueller Rd. Sgt. McEntee will be buried at Resurrection Cemetery.

Stay with Newschannel 5 and ksdk.com for the latest developments.

[Ruh]

SOURCE
Family begs suspect in officer's shooting to surrender

By Heather Ratcliffe and Ron Harris
Of the Post-Dispatch
07/07/2005

Relatives of Kevin Johnson made a public plea for his surrender Thursday, and said he fatally shot a Kirkwood police sergeant while overwrought about the death of his brother from natural causes about 90 minutes earlier.

Johnson, 19, felt that Kirkwood officers were more interested in arresting him for a probation violation than in helping his younger brother, who had a heart ailment and collapsed, according to family who live near Tuesday evening's shooting scene. Joseph Long, 12, had died at a hospital about 6:20 p.m.

Some relatives shared the sentiment, although they did not condone the killing and said they grieved as well for Sgt. William McEntee, 43, a married father of three and 19-year veteran of the force.

Police refused to discuss the comments, insisting their focus had to remain on catching the sergeant's killer, whatever his motivation. They previously said that McEntee had not been on the scene where Joseph, called "Bam Bam" by loved ones, was stricken.

Officers from various departments followed up tips Thursday and kept a close eye out for Johnson, also known as Kevin Tatum and as "Rockhead." Multiple witnesses told police and reporters that Johnson shot McEntee in two separate encounters. Officials said he used a 9 mm pistol and also stole the sergeant's .40-caliber pistol.

"Kevin, please turn yourself in," said Anderson Kimble, the suspect's great-grandfather, in an interview Thursday at his home on Saratoga Street in Kirkwood. "Take this burden off your grandmother."

Kimble said the family's grief did not justify killing McEntee. "I'm sorry for what happened."

The Rev. Harry Jones, who lives across the street from the Johnson family, said the neighborhood has been tense since Kirkwood annexed the area in 1991, tearing down some homes to make way for the Kirkwood Commons retail center. Residents feel excluded from the community, he said.

"There has been friction between police and the neighborhood," Jones said. "We're treated like outsiders."

Johnson had been inside his great-grandmother's home while police were outside looking at his parked SUV about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to his aunt, Aliesha Ward, 16. Johnson was wanted for violating terms of a 2002 conviction for domestic assault.

Patricia Ward, Johnson's grandmother, said Johnson asked Joseph to take a set of keys to his SUV next door to her, ostensibly so someone else could drive the SUV away. Joseph, who she said suffered from a heart ailment since birth, collapsed after going up and down the stairs in her house.

Family members rushed outside and asked police to help. Officers called paramedics and went inside.

Patricia Ward said her 19-year-old daughter and 23-year-old son were trying to revive Joseph when the police came in. "I think they could have saved Bam Bam," she complained. She said that while the family waited for an ambulance, police searched the house for Johnson, who was next door at his great-grandmother's house, watching.

Aliesha Ward said she was frustrated that police kept family out of the house. "They were more interested in getting Kevin then helping Bam Bam."

Paramedics treated Joseph and took him to a hospital.

Kirkwood police have declined to discuss their involvement in Joseph's care, or to release a report about it. A public records request for the document is pending.

Henrietta Kimble, Johnson's great-grandmother, said that after Joseph was taken away, Johnson returned and asked her how he was doing. "I told him that he didn't make it," Kimble, 81, said, "and he went out of the door running."

At about 7:30 p.m., McEntee drove his marked patrol car into the Meacham Park neighborhood in response to a call about someone with fireworks.

Dezara Miles, who lives there, told a reporter Thursday that she saw Johnson talking to his girlfriend on the sidewalk as she drove past the police officer in the 300 block of Alsobrook Street. As she pulled into the driveway about three houses away, she heard gunfire.

"When I looked up the street, everyone was running," she said.

Police said that as McEntee talked with a 13-year-old boy standing outside the driver's side door, Johnson walked to the passenger side and opened fire, wounding the sergeant and the teen, who was hit in the leg and is now recovering. McEntee's car drove west into the 300 block, clipped a parked car and stopped when it hit a tree.

Cecil Jones, who lives on the block, said he pulled the officer from the car and told someone to call 911.

Missy Sloan, 29, crawled into the officer's car and tried using his radio to call for help, her sister B.J. Wiley, said. And as the crowd gathered around the officer, Johnson walked up and shot him before taking the officer's gun.

Multiple witnesses said Johnson fired the additional shots before fleeing on foot.

One man who said he saw it happen described how bystanders tried to dissuade Johnson from the second volley. "People said, "Aw man, don't do that, don't do that again."

Police said Johnson escaped from the neighborhood in his SUV, which was found abandoned Wednesday in Ferguson. McEntee was pronounced dead later Tuesday at a hospital.

Nona King, a spokeswoman for Kirkwood School District, said Johnson had been a high school student there and played football in the fall of 2003, what should have been his senior year. He didn't earn enough credits to graduate, so he enrolled in fall 2004 in the district's Collaborative School, in Brentwood, an alternative program. She said he was in and out of that program during the last school year.

[Ruh]

They got him!

see above article for update.

Kevin Johnson is in custody
By Heather Ratcliffe and Ron Harris
Of the Post-Dispatch

Updated at 6:15 p.m.:

Police have Kevin Johnson in custody and are transporting him to St. Louis County Police Headquarters in Clayton.

[Welpe]

Ruh, sorry to hear about this tragedy that has hit so close to home for you. I would also encourage you to attend his funeral. Best wishes and God bless.

[Ruh]

Sadly, I was unable to make it to the funeral. My daughter had her 2nd birthday party around the same time. However, I did break away from the party for about an hour to see the funeral procession pass the Police Department. Was a beautiful sight. 100 or so police cars, 100 or so police motorcycles, and about 50 fire/emt vehicles all from various districts around the area. An officer told me it would change my perspective and not just for the worst. He was totally right.