SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — A man fired randomly from his vehicle several times while driving through a southwest Missouri city before eventually crashing into a convenience store, where he walked inside, opened fire and left five people dead, including a police officer and himself, police said Monday.
The dead from Sunday night's shooting include a store employee and two men who were in the store, police said. A second officer was injured, along with another person.
The gunman's motives remain unclear, Springfield police Chief Paul Williams said at a news conference, where his voice broke as he described his officers' actions.
Williams said police received reports of “multiple shooting calls throughout the city” late Sunday starting in the south and moving north through the city's east side.
"In essence we had a roving active shooter moving from the south side of the city up," Williams said.
As officers were responding to those calls, witnesses reported a vehicle crashed into a Kum & Go. gas station and convenience store, and the gunman walked inside and began shooting customers and employees, Williams said.
The Kansas City Star reported that the gunman opened fire from inside the store as police arrived, with officers taking cover behind vehicles and shields.
“Advise everybody arriving on the scene, the shooter is shooting out the window,” one officer can be heard saying on audio captured by the online website Broadcastify.com, The Star reported. “The officer shot from inside the store outside. Take cover behind vehicles.”
The first two officers who arrived were shot. Other officers pulled the injured officers from the store and then went inside, finding three people dead. The gunman also died, apparently from a self-inflicted gunshot, Williams said. Police identified the shooter as 31-year-old Joaquin S. Roman of Springfield.
Officer Christopher Walsh, 32, was shot and killed as he tried to rescue a victim, Williams said. He was with the Springfield police for 3 1/2 years, was an Army veteran and was active in the Army reserves.
Walsh, a Springfield native, is survived by a wife and daughter.
“Chris died a hero, rushing in without regard to his own safety to protect members of his community. His courageous actions serve as an example to us all,” Wiliams said in a news release.
Police identified the three other men who died as 57-year-old Troy D. Rapp, who was employed by Kum-N-Go, 46-year-old Shannon R. Perkins, who was employed by WCA Waste Corporation, and 22-year-old store customer Matthew J. Hicks-Morris. All were from Springfield.
Officer Josiah Overton, whose injuries are not life-threatening, has been with Springfield police for two years, he said.
“Both officers showed significant bravery and were heroic in their actions,” Williams said.
“There are no word to express the shock and sorrow many of us are feeling,” Kum & Go spokesman Aeriel Rubin said, adding “We remain grateful for the courage of our first responders and will do our utmost to support the investigation going forward.”
A Springfield woman said the man fired at her as she was driving home from work about 11:30 p.m. Casey Parrish said the man was driving in front of her and everything seemed normal until she heard what she thought at first was a blown tire. Then she saw muzzle flashes from from the driver's side of the car in front of her, The Springfield News-Leader reported.
Parrish said she did nothing to provoke the shooting and the gunman was driving normally until just before the shots started. He fired seven or eight shots as his car was swerving but her car was not hit. Parrish said she slowed down and the suspect eventually turned off of Highway 65 away from her. When she called 911, she was told officers were investigating similar reports from other locations.
"It was so surreal," Parrish said.
Williams said it was too early to comment on the impact the shooting had on his department.
“We're still investigating multiple crime scenes and dealing with grieving the loss of one of our own,” he said.
GREENE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and have identified the officer and three other victims.
Just before 11:30 p.m. Sunday, Springfield Police Officers were dispatched to the area of Battlefield Road and Lone Pine Avenue regarding a shooting, according to a media release.
While en route, multiple shooting calls were received, including one at 2100 S Ingram Mill and another at Sunshine and Hwy 65. A final call came in at 11:43 and officers were dispatched to the Kum & Go located at 2885 E Chestnut Expressway regarding another shooting. Callers reported a vehicle crashing at the scene and an armed suspect entering the store and shooting customers and employees.
When officers arrived the suspect began firing at them from inside the Kum-N-Go, fatally wounding Officer Chris Walsh and injuring Officer Josiah Overton.
Other responding officers arrived and made entry into the store where they found the suspect deceased from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Officers also discovered three other deceased victims and one critically wounded subject at the Kum-N-Go. All victims appear to have been shot by the suspect.
The suspect has been identified as Joaquin S. Roman, a 31-year-old male from Springfield. Next of kin notifications have been made.
Detectives continue to investigate and are asking anyone who has information about this incident to contact the Springfield Police Department.
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GREENE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and have identified the officer and three other victims.
Just before 11:30 p.m. Sunday, Springfield Police Officers were dispatched to the area of Battlefield Road and Lone Pine Avenue regarding a shooting, according to a media release.
While en route, multiple shooting calls were received, including one at 2100 S Ingram Mill and another at Sunshine and Hwy 65. A final call came in at 11:43 and officers were dispatched to the Kum & Go located at 2885 E Chestnut Expressway regarding another shooting. Callers reported a vehicle crashing at the scene and an armed suspect entering the store and shooting customers and employees.
When officers arrived the suspect began firing at them from inside the Kum-N-Go, fatally wounding Officer Chris Walsh and injuring Officer Josiah Overton.
Other responding officers arrived and made entry into the store where they found the suspect deceased from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Officers also discovered three other deceased victims and one critically wounded subject at the Kum-N-Go. All victims appear to have been shot by the suspect.
The suspect has been identified as Joaquin S. Roman, a 31-year-old male from Springfield. Next of kin notifications have been made.
Detectives continue to investigate and are asking anyone who has information about this incident to contact the Springfield Police Department at 417-864-1810 or make an anonymous call to Crime Stoppers at 417-869-TIPS (8477).
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SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — Police say five people are dead and two others are injured after a shooting at a gas station in Springfield, Missouri.
Police Chief Paul Williams said Monday morning the dead include a Springfield police officer, three citizens and the gunman. Williams said police began receiving reports of someone firing shots from a car late Sunday. The car eventually crashed into a Kum & Go gas station and convenience store. Williams said the gunman entered the store and began shooting.
Two officers who arrived first were shot as they entered the store. One died and the other suffered non-life threatening injuries. Other officers who entered the store found three people and the gunman dead.