DrePol
02-07-2008, 20:39
KIRKWOOD, Mo. — Two police officers were shot and killed by a gunman who opened fire at a Missouri city council meeting, according to MyFOXStLouis.com.
Police shot the gunman, who had hit Kirkwood Mayor Mike Swoboda, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.
The shooting occurred in the St. Louis suburb of Kirkwood.
Further information on victims wasn't immediately available.
Gunman opens fire in Kirkwood
From staff reports
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
02/08/2008
A man walked into a Kirkwood city council meeting Thursday night and shot several people, including the city’s mayor and several council members.
A correspondent for the Post-Dispatch who was attending said the 7 p.m. meeting had just started when the man rushed into the council chambers yelling and began opening fire with at least one weapon. She identified the man as Charles Lee "Cookie" Thornton.
"He came from the back of the room," said Janet McNichols, the correspondent. "He kept yelling ‘shoot the mayor’ and he just walked around shooting anybody he could."
McNichols said the shooter first fired at a police officer at the meeting, then began firing at the council. As people went to the floor, the shooter walked toward the council area.
He fired at the city attorney, who fended the attacker off by throwing chairs, McNichols said. The shooter went behind a curved desk where the council sits and fired more shots at members of the council, she said.
Then police arrived and shot the attacker.
Among those hit, in addition to the police officer, were Mayor Mike Swoboda, council members Michael H.T. Lynch and Connie Karr and Public Works Director Kenneth Yost, McNichols said. Conditions were not known for any of them.
She said about 30 people were in the council chambers at the time of the shooting. Witnesses were herded into offices while police secured the scene.
Police shot the gunman, who had hit Kirkwood Mayor Mike Swoboda, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.
The shooting occurred in the St. Louis suburb of Kirkwood.
Further information on victims wasn't immediately available.
Gunman opens fire in Kirkwood
From staff reports
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
02/08/2008
A man walked into a Kirkwood city council meeting Thursday night and shot several people, including the city’s mayor and several council members.
A correspondent for the Post-Dispatch who was attending said the 7 p.m. meeting had just started when the man rushed into the council chambers yelling and began opening fire with at least one weapon. She identified the man as Charles Lee "Cookie" Thornton.
"He came from the back of the room," said Janet McNichols, the correspondent. "He kept yelling ‘shoot the mayor’ and he just walked around shooting anybody he could."
McNichols said the shooter first fired at a police officer at the meeting, then began firing at the council. As people went to the floor, the shooter walked toward the council area.
He fired at the city attorney, who fended the attacker off by throwing chairs, McNichols said. The shooter went behind a curved desk where the council sits and fired more shots at members of the council, she said.
Then police arrived and shot the attacker.
Among those hit, in addition to the police officer, were Mayor Mike Swoboda, council members Michael H.T. Lynch and Connie Karr and Public Works Director Kenneth Yost, McNichols said. Conditions were not known for any of them.
She said about 30 people were in the council chambers at the time of the shooting. Witnesses were herded into offices while police secured the scene.