UPDATED AT 7:15 AND 11 A.M. — Seven months to the day after a law-enforcement officer in Henry County was killed in the line of duty, another has died during an incident.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop A’s Twitter feed, three Clinton Police officers were shot, and one of them died from his wounds, relating to an incident that began on Tuesday, March 6.
The suspect, who had barricaded himself inside a residence, later was located by authorities deceased.
As of about 3 a.m. on Wednesday, March 7, the two officers were being treated for minor and moderate injuries at area hospitals.
The Highway Patrol, Clinton Police Department and Henry County Sheriff’s Department still are investigating.
According to an updated Twitter post, authorities have identified the police officer who was killed as 30-year-old Christopher Ryan Morton (left). The other officers have not been identified at this time.
Another updated Twitter post says the suspect has been identified as 37-year-old James E. Waters, of Clinton.
KMMO News will update this story as more information becomes available.
On August 6, 2017, Ian McCarthy allegedly shot to death 37-year-old Clinton Police Officer Gary Michael. Online court documents say McCarthy, who is charged with three felonies, including First-Degree Murder, pleaded not guilty to the charges at a hearing on December 22. Several motions have been made, and his next hearing still is pending.
Photo courtesy Missouri State Highway Patrol on its Twitter account.