KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A suburban St. Louis police officer was “ambushed” during a traffic stop Friday and critically injured when he was shot at least once from behind as he walked to his patrol car to check the suspect’s driving status, authorities said.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A suburban St. Louis police officer was “ambushed” during a traffic stop Friday and critically injured when he was shot at least once from behind as he walked to his patrol car to check the suspect’s driving status, authorities said.
Antonio Taylor, a 31-year-old black man who was paroled in 2015 after serving time on a federal weapons charge, was charged with assault of a police officer, armed criminal action and a felon in possession of a firearm, St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch said Friday.
McCulloch said there’s no evidence of any dispute between Taylor and the officer before the gunfire. Ballwin Police Chief Kevin Scott said he “can’t even begin to speculate” about a motive, including whether the shooting involving the white officer, a nine-year police veteran, had racial overtones.
Authorities have not named the officer, and the criminal complaint identifies the officer only as “M.F.”
The officer was walking to his car after the initial conversation with the motorist he stopped for speeding when that driver “advanced quickly” on him from behind, firing at least three shots, Scott said. The officer “had no chance at all” to pull his handgun and “was completely helpless,” Scott said, noting the encounter was recorded by the police car’s dashcam.
“Make no mistake: We believe during this investigation that Ballwin officer was ambushed, period,” St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar said.