Gunman Kills Officer, Injures 3, Is Shot Dead in Missouri

A gunman opened fire near downtown Tuesday night, killing a police officer and wounding at least three other people before officers shot him to death.

Witnesses told police the man began firing as he went up the street, shooting randomly at people as he walked toward the Calvary Baptist Church, Lt. Jim Connors said.

The first officer to respond to the scene was fatally wounded.

The officer died soon after he arrived at Heartland Regional Medical Center, hospital spokeswoman Kelly Stuck said. One wounded bystander was in stable condition and another was in surgery Tuesday night, Stuck said.

Fire captain Ed Wildberger said a firefighter also was shot but his wounds were not considered serious.

The dead police officer was identified as 27-year-old Bradley Thomas Arn, a seven-year veteran of the force and father of 3-year-old twins. His patrol car was riddled with at least seven bullet holes. One round went through a passenger window and struck Arn in the head, Connors said.

Connors said officers shot the unidentified gunman after cornering him behind the church. The gunman had continued firing at them, he said.

Michael Boone, a grocery store night manager, said he saw the man walking toward his store. “We just heard all kinds of gunfire and people were running inside the store for cover,” Boone said. “We tried to move them all into the back where they could be safe, but people were really scared.”