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

2,400 High School Football Injuries Resulted in Permanent Disabilities

Colin Hart
Staff Writer

REDMOND, CA— Pete Stenhoff, former high school football player, never expected that one play would confine him to wheelchair for the rest of his life.

That, however, was not the case. While playing for the Chula Vista High School football team, Stenhoff rammed his head into an opposing ball carriers chest fracturing a vertebra in his spine.

The result? He was unable to graduate with his class, lost 38 pounds, and is now confined to a wheelchair for life.

Chula Vista High school football players stand on
the sidelines during practice.

He’s not bitter; “I knew the risks involved when I decided to play.” While he may have known there were risks, did he really understand what they were? Each year there are 20,000 injuries in high school football. 7,000 of those are to the head or neck and 2,400 of them result in permanent disabilities to the players.

Last year alone, 13 high school students died from football related injuries. Many critics blame the helmet design for these numbers.

For students like Stenhoff, injuries are something that comes with the territory. “But,” he adds, “I wish I would have known just how bad it could be.”

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Further Reading on Helmet Reform:

Does Football Have a Future?: click here

It's the Concussion Crisis: click here

Tackling Head Trauma: Safety Guidelines for Football Helmets: click here

What do you think? Should the government mandate helmet reform to protect our children? Comment below.