An officer killed by a suspect who wounded two others in a series of shootings in Joplin, Missouri, on Tuesday was identified by his grieving police chief as Cpl. Ben Cooper.
"We are a large family at the Joplin Police Department, a very large extended family. And today we are hurting and are feeling that throughout the community," the chief, Sloan Rowland, said during a news conference Wednesday.
Cooper, who started with the department in 2003 and was promoted to corporal in 2016, "leaves behind a wife and two daughters," Rowland added.
The suspect was killed when an officer returned fire and struck him repeatedly, the chief said. He was identified as Anthony Felix, 40, of Joplin.
One of the wounded officers remained in critical condition Wednesday, Rowland said. The second was in serious condition but stable. Their names were not released.
The violence began shortly after 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, when two officers responding to a report of a disturbance at the Northpark Crossing shopping center were shot while trying to detain the suspect, Joplin Assistant Police Chief Brian Lewis said in a written statement.
The suspect then took a patrol vehicle, led police on a chase and fired at police from the stolen patrol vehicle, striking a pursuing police vehicle and "narrowly missing one of the officers in the car," Rowland said Wednesday.
The suspect crashed the stolen vehicle in a residential neighborhood and ran, police said.
When the officers caught up, the suspect shot at them and one officer was injured. An officer returned fire and the suspect was also struck, Lewis said.
Joplin Mayor Ryan Stanley said during Wednesday's news conference that city flags would be lowered to half-staff at noon.
"Every day we are called to honor the sacrifice of our bravest. And today we are reminded why," he said.
The mayor urged the community to support the families of the fallen and injured officers.
"Today we lift up Corporal Ben Cooper, his wife and children. Corporal Cooper made the greatest sacrifice for the city yesterday."
In a tweet Tuesday, Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe made a similar plea, asking Missourians to pray along with him and his wife, Claudia, “for the officers involved in the shooting today in Joplin, as well as for their families and fellow officers.”
The Missouri State Highway Patrol said it was asked by Joplin police to investigate the shootings, which is routine in shootings involving police.
