Shooting in St. Joseph, Missouri Kills Police Officer and Gunman

Colin Hart
Staff Writer



SAINT JOSEPH, MO — A shooting rampage killed a police officer and the gunman, injuring three others near 22nd and Frederick Street here yesterday.

The fallen officer, 28 year-old Bradley Arn, was a first responder to calls about the shooting. As he drove toward the scene, the shooter opened fire, rattling off seven shots from his semi-automatic rifle. One of the seven bullets shattered a window, striking the back of the officer’s head, killing him.

The gunman was described by police officers as a Caucasian male with a Mohawk haircut. He wore camouflage, had pockets full of ammunition, a hunter’s knife on his belt and a loaded shotgun strapped to his back, police said. One eyewitness said it looked like he might have been chanting.

St. Joseph is not a city that often sees violence toward police. The last officer that was killed was in 1991 when he was hit by a car and the last officer shot was in 1944.

After a bullet struck Officer Arn, eyewitnesses saw him slump, obviously no longer manipulating the steering wheel, and then lose control of his vehicle

Roger Liberty, an area resident, said that before police arrived the shooter had been firing repeatedly and randomly. Hearing the police cars coming down the street caused him to turn around and open fire on them.

“It was awful what he did,” said Liberty. He stood talking on his phone on his back porch when he heard what sounded like gunshots, he said. He ran out to Calhoon Street and saw the gunman firing several times and reloading. After he shot the police car being driven by Officer Arn, he ran inside grabbing his 30/30 Winchester rifle. By the time he got back outside and started taking aim, police brought down the gunman.

“This just doesn’t happen in St. Joseph,” said Officer Connors with a tired face. After a heavy sigh he continued, “Officers are shocked to say the very least. Counselors will be made available to them.” Kansas City is sending its own crisis counselors to help officers and witnesses deal with the traumatic events of the past day, police said.

This quiet town has been reeling from the shooting. For some, it’s been a sad wake up call, Liberty said, “It’s awful that’s for sure. I’m sorry it happened. That’s the world we live in now. Even in St. Joe.”

Audio courtesy of Colin Hart.

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Further Reading Related to Officer Arn:

Officer Bradley Arn Profile: click here

Officer Bradley Arn Honor Run: click here