Susan Smith-Harmon
A quirk of the calendar put Thursday night's City Council meeting on the five year anniversary of the Kirkwood City Hall shootings.
Before the meeting people gathered outside city hall and held hands. Church bells tolled seven times -- once for each of the six victims, and the shooter.
The massacre on February 7th, 2008 had claimed the lives Mayor Mike Swoboda ((swuh-BOH-duh)), council members Connie Karr and Michael Lynch, Public Works Director Ken Yost ((YOHST)), Police Sergeant William Biggs and Officer Tom Ballman. The shooter, Charles "Cookie" Thornton was also killed.
Last night's council meeting began with a simple commemoration. Mayor Arthur McDonnell read the names of the victims, and offered a prayer. A moment of silence followed, then it was business as usual.
Police raid scrap yard owned by Kirkwood shooter's brother
Friday, 08 February 2013 01:52 Published in Local NewsJust hours before the fifth anniversary of the shooting was marked in Kirkwood, the Metro East Auto Theft Task Force executed a warrant at Paul Thornton's Scrap Solutions business in the 5500 block of Dial Drive. But Task force Director Gary Brewer says it had nothing to do with the anniversary of the shootings. "This all has to do with timing on following and executing a search warrant to find stolen vehicles," Brewer said.
Police found several stolen cars on the lot, along with a stolen semi and another tractor-trailer filled with auto parts. Brewer said the bust was the result of an investigation that began after a spike in thefts of older model cars.
Thornton was critical of the way the raid was conduction. He told Fox 2 News Thursday evening that it wasn't right for 20 to 30 officers to come to his business with guns drawn.
Police won't say if there are any charges pending against Thornton.
Police officer shoots, kills suspect along St. Louis riverfront
Friday, 08 February 2013 01:41 Published in Local NewsPolice say it began when the Port Authority spotted a suspicious vehicle in the area. When police ran the plates, they discovered several outstanding warrants.
Police say the suspect tried to grab an officer's gun as he approached the vehicle. There was a struggle and the officer fired one shot, hitting the man in the chest.
The suspect was rushed to the hospital where he died. His name hasn't been released.
Police say they found a gun in the suspect's vehicle.
The 28-year-old officer is now on routine administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation. St. Louis Police Captain Michael Sack says the officer has been on the force for about two years.
This is the second officer involved shooting in the City of St. Louis this year.
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