6 Dead After Gunfire at Mo. Meeting

[lexington86]

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h...oMbpgD8ULSV7O0

KIRKWOOD, Mo. (AP) — A gunman opened fire at a meeting of this St. Louis suburb's city council Thursday night, killing two police officers and three other people before law enforcers fatally shot him, authorities said.

The five were killed after the gunman rushed the council chambers and began firing as he yelled "Shoot the mayor," according to St. Louis County Police spokesman Tracy Panus. Two others were wounded.

Kirkwood police fatally shot the gunman.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

KIRKWOOD, Mo. (AP) — A gunman opened fire at a city council meeting in this St. Louis suburb Thursday night, hitting the mayor and several city officials, a newspaper reported. There was no immediate word on whether anyone was killed.

Police shot the gunman, who had hit Kirkwood Mayor Mike Swoboda, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, which had a reporter at the meeting.

Also shot were a police officer, council members Michael H.T. Lynch and Connie Karr, and Public Works Director Kenneth Yost, the correspondent, Janet McNichols, told the newspaper.

The victims were taken to St. John's Mercy Hospital, but Kirkwood police told The Associated Press no one was available to provide information. St. Louis County police did not return several calls.

The reporter said the 7 p.m. meeting had just started when the gunman rushed into the council chambers yelling and opened fire with at least one weapon. He started yelling "shoot the mayor" while walking around and firing, hitting a police officer first, the reporter said.

McNichols also said the shooter fired at the city attorney, who tried to fight off the attacker by throwing chairs. The gunman then moved behind a desk where the council sits and fired at council members.

About 30 people were in the council chambers, the reporter said.

Dozens of emergency vehicles were on the scene, and an area of several blocks was cordoned off along a busy north-south corridor around City Hall.

Kirkwood is about 20 miles southwest of downtown St. Louis. City Hall is in a quiet area filled with condominiums, eateries and shops, not far from a dance studio and train station.

Mary Linehares, a teacher who lives about four blocks from City Hall and who walked down to the scene with her husband, described the town as quiet and eclectic.

"It's like a small town in St. Louis," Linehares told The Associated Press. "You can call it Mayberry."

[markheck1]

here we go...I can hear it already.....

"This is why city council, or borough, or township buildings need to be .....yep you guessed it.....'Gun Free Zones' "

I hate it when these people make the rest of us look bad......

[1blindref]

McNichols also said the shooter fired at the city attorney, who tried to fight off the attacker by throwing chairs.

He should have been throwing 230gr JHPs at 1050 fps

[gnbrotz]

here we go...I can hear it already.....

"This is why city council, or borough, or township buildings need to be .....yep you guessed it.....'Gun Free Zones' "

I hate it when these people make the rest of us look bad......

Not sure what local regs may apply, but the NRA summary for MO states that "governmental meetings and portions of public buildings that prohibit carrying firearms by ordinance or regulation" are already prohibited areas.

Don't know if that means all government meetings, plus prohibited areas or only meetings and areas that are posted. In either event, it seems it's a possibility that this meeting was already a 'Gun Free Zone'. It will be interesting to find out if that's the case or not.

[Pa. Patriot]

Wow. Shooting after shooting after shooting.......

.
.
.
...must be presidential election season .

[markheck1]

Not sure what local regs may apply, but the NRA summary for MO states that "governmental meetings and portions of public buildings that prohibit carrying firearms by ordinance or regulation" are already prohibited areas.

Don't know if that means all government meetings, plus prohibited areas or only meetings and areas that are posted. In either event, it seems it's a possibility that this meeting was already a 'Gun Free Zone'. It will be interesting to find out if that's the case or not.

Hmm...that worked out well, didn't it?

yep, very interesting

[PisnNapalm]

Wow. Shooting after shooting after shooting.......

.
.
.
...must be presidential election season .

I was thinking is it a full moon?

[FUNDAMENTALS]

It appears that he had one pistol orginally, revolver, but after murdering the
first or second police officer, he took one of there service pistols. This is truly a
sad, sad situation. This was reported by FOX NEWS.

[1blindref]

It appears that he had one pistol orginally, revolver, but after murdering the
first or second police officer, he took one of there service pistols.

Another reason for smart guns

[ungawa]

A terrible tragedy.

Note how easy head shots are against unarmed opponents. Cops often fire 15 rounds against their targets. Cowering in fear, it's simply a matter of choice to the assailant. One criminal, one gun. You can't get rid of all criminals or all guns. So cover your ass.