Kirkwood Police Officer (Sgt. William McEntee) Dies From Gunshot Wounds

[Ruh]

I don't know if it is "appropriate" for me to post this here or not but for many reasons I feel compelled to do so.

I am a Kirkwood resident and this is a fairly small community. It isn't the type where everyone knows everyone, but it is damn well close to it. From the moment I decided to become a Police Officer I have had my heart set on working with the fine men and women of the Kirkwood Police Department. Tonight one of them, and his family, has made the ultimate sacrifice for our community. To those of you that serve now, to those who have served before, to those who have given their lives, and to those families of those men and women I say thank you and hope that I some day have the honor to serve with you and follow in your footsteps.

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SOURCE

A Kirkwood police sargeant died Tuesday night, several hours after being shot at an apartment complex near Interstate 44 and Big Bend Road.

The officer was identified as William McEntee, who spent more than 20 years on the Kirkwood police force. The attack happened in the 300 block of Alsobrook, in what is known as the Meachum Park area. McEntee was shot in the face.

Kirkwood Police Chief Jack Plummer said McEntee went to the address due to a complaint about fireworks. That's where McEntee reportedly encountered 19 year old Kevin Johnson, also known as Kevin Tatum. Johnson was making what the Kirkwood police chief described as bizarre statements. Without warning, Johnson allegedly shot McEntee and a juvenile. The condition of the juvenile has not been released.

Heavily armed officers raced to the scene, but were unable to find Johnson. Police say he should be considered armed and very dangerous. Johnson has not been charged in the case.

Stay with Newschannel 5 and ksdk.com for the latest developments.

[Citicop]

I don't know if it is "appropriate" for me to post this here or not but for many reasons I feel compelled to do so.

Ruh-

Of COURSE it's appropriate. One need not be an officer to pay respect to one who made the ultimate sacrafice. All our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and KPD in general.

Rest in peace, brother...we'll take the next shift.

Citicop.

[mcsap]

One needn't be a LEO to post here aslong as it is done with reverence, as you have done.

What a great tragedy , the family and dept. is in my prayers. May the presumed guilty party be dealt with swiftly.

[Bearcat06]

Kirkwood officer is shot, killed
By Daphne Duret
Of the Post-Dispatch
07/05/2005

Questions, rumors and fears spread through a Kirkwood neighborhood Tuesday night after a police sergeant was shot and killed by a gunman.

Sgt. William McEntee, who had been with the Kirkwood Police Department since 1981, died of his injuries late Tuesday night at St. John's Mercy Medical Center in Creve Coeur, said Kirkwood Police Chief Jack Plummer. He was shot several times.

A boy also was injured during the shooting and treated at an area hospital, Plummer said. His condition was not released.

The shooting marked the first time a Kirkwood police officer has been shot and killed in the department's history.

McEntee was responding to a fireworks disturbance about 7:30 p.m. when the shooting took place.

Plummer said a man approached McEntee, made some "bizarre statements" and shot him several times.

"He was responding to a call that had absolutely nothing to do with the shooting," he said. "Our man was ambushed."

The shooting spawned a multidepartment manhunt - with officers from St. Louis County, Warson Woods, Webster Groves, Des Peres, Sunset Hills, Shrewsbury and the Missouri Highway Patrol joining to assist Kirkwood police.

Plummer said police were looking for a man wearing blue shorts and a red sweat shirt. He added that the suspect frequented the neighborhood.

He said the suspect was armed and a threat to area residents.

"He shot a police officer, you're damn right he's dangerous," Plummer said.

The shooting occurred near the corner of Milwaukee and Alsobrook streets.

There were reports that McEntee was shot in the face, but Plummer said he could not confirm that.

Plummer said McEntee was a married father of two.

Shortly after the shooting, several Kirkwood police officers stood behind a patrol car near Saratoga Street and Tolstoi Place with their guns drawn and trained on a dwelling in the neighborhood. However, they later dispersed from the area.

Residents near the scene Tuesday night were filled with anxiety and confusion as law enforcement combed the area.

"I've never seen this many police out here," said Lisa Anderson, who lives nearby. "I don't know what to think, 'cause there's all these different stories going around."

A St. Louis County SWAT team began searching homes and cars in the neighborhood shortly after 10 p.m.

About 10:45 p.m., St. Louis County police handcuffed and detained a man, but police would not identify the man or say how he was related to the shooting.

Police this morning continued their search throughout the Kirkwood area.

There were reports that the gunman was related to a boy who died in the area earlier Tuesday, but Plummer said the two incidents didn't appear to be related.

Heather Ratcliffe and Joel Currier of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.

Reporter Daphne Duret
E-mail: dduret@post-dispatch.com
Phone: 314-340-8126

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/new...7?OpenDocument

[richcecil]

:( I know what it is like to lose a coworker as well as a friend. RIP brother, as long as others follow, you are alive!

[Nate#2]

Man.

[Ruh]

They have released the suspects name and pictures and I am now more than ever convinced that he is in fact someone I went to HS with. I asked my fiancee if she recognized the guy and before she even knew what the picture was in relation to she said "yea I know him he went to our HS" then I told her what the story was about and her jaw dropped. After talking I have more connection to this guy than I would ever want. The suspect was also on the schools football team, knew my fiancee, and if he graduated I am sure I was there. I knew the name and face right off from reading the article so I wouldn't be surprised if I had a class with him.

I also now remember meeting Sgt. McEntee briefly on my last ride. The officer was huge, not in a slobby way but huge as in big and musclular type. The thing I remember most after his size is that he was nice and held the door for me as me and the officer I was riding with left the station. I was riding during the afternoon shift and he was just getting off of day shift I believe.

Sorry if this is more of a ramble than anything else...

If you click the link make sure to watch the video clip
------------------------
SOURCE
A Kirkwood police sergeant died Tuesday night, several hours after being shot at an apartment complex near Interstate 44 and Big Bend Road.

Segeant William McEntee spent more than 20 years on the Kirkwood police force, and is the first Kirkwood officer killed since 1900 in the line of duty.

The attack happened in the 300 block of Alsobrook. Sgt. McEntee was shot in the head.

Police say he was responding to a fireworks call, and was talking to a 13-year-old male. McEntee was sitting in his car talking to the teen, who was standing outside the driver's side door.

Police say 19-year-old Kevin Johnson walked up along the passenger side of the car and started firing into the car, hitting McEntee and also hitting the 13-year-old boy in the leg. The teen's injuries are not considered life threatening.

Witnesses say McEntee's car, which was in gear, sped into a tree. Johnson then allegedly walked up to the car and fired shots at Sgt. McEntee from a close range, then took McEntee's service weapon and left.

Johnson' vehicle, a white Ford Explorer, was later found in a Ferguson apartment complex.

Heavily armed officers raced to the scene, but were unable to find Johnson. Police say he should be considered armed and very dangerous. Johnson has not been charged in the case.

Johnson is described as 5'7" and 160 lbs. He is known to have lived in the 400 block of Saratoga. He has some tattoos pictured on the left.

St. Louis County Police have taken over the investigation.

The family has released funeral arrangements for Sgt. McEntee. Visitation will be Friday from 2-9 p.m. at Kutis Funeral Home, at 10151 Gravois. The funeral service will start with a 10:15 a.m. prayer service, followed by the funeral at 11 a.m. at St. Simon the Apostle Catholic Church in south St. Louis County. The church is at 11011 Mueller Rd. Sgt. McEntee will be buried at Resurrection Cemetery.

Stay with Newschannel 5 and ksdk.com for the latest developments.

[Ruh]

SOURCE
Family begs suspect in officer's shooting to surrender

By Heather Ratcliffe and Ron Harris
Of the Post-Dispatch
07/07/2005

Relatives of Kevin Johnson made a public plea for his surrender Thursday, and said he fatally shot a Kirkwood police sergeant while overwrought about the death of his brother from natural causes about 90 minutes earlier.

Johnson, 19, felt that Kirkwood officers were more interested in arresting him for a probation violation than in helping his younger brother, who had a heart ailment and collapsed, according to family who live near Tuesday evening's shooting scene. Joseph Long, 12, had died at a hospital about 6:20 p.m.

Some relatives shared the sentiment, although they did not condone the killing and said they grieved as well for Sgt. William McEntee, 43, a married father of three and 19-year veteran of the force.

Police refused to discuss the comments, insisting their focus had to remain on catching the sergeant's killer, whatever his motivation. They previously said that McEntee had not been on the scene where Joseph, called "Bam Bam" by loved ones, was stricken.

Officers from various departments followed up tips Thursday and kept a close eye out for Johnson, also known as Kevin Tatum and as "Rockhead." Multiple witnesses told police and reporters that Johnson shot McEntee in two separate encounters. Officials said he used a 9 mm pistol and also stole the sergeant's .40-caliber pistol.

"Kevin, please turn yourself in," said Anderson Kimble, the suspect's great-grandfather, in an interview Thursday at his home on Saratoga Street in Kirkwood. "Take this burden off your grandmother."

Kimble said the family's grief did not justify killing McEntee. "I'm sorry for what happened."

The Rev. Harry Jones, who lives across the street from the Johnson family, said the neighborhood has been tense since Kirkwood annexed the area in 1991, tearing down some homes to make way for the Kirkwood Commons retail center. Residents feel excluded from the community, he said.

"There has been friction between police and the neighborhood," Jones said. "We're treated like outsiders."

Johnson had been inside his great-grandmother's home while police were outside looking at his parked SUV about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to his aunt, Aliesha Ward, 16. Johnson was wanted for violating terms of a 2002 conviction for domestic assault.

Patricia Ward, Johnson's grandmother, said Johnson asked Joseph to take a set of keys to his SUV next door to her, ostensibly so someone else could drive the SUV away. Joseph, who she said suffered from a heart ailment since birth, collapsed after going up and down the stairs in her house.

Family members rushed outside and asked police to help. Officers called paramedics and went inside.

Patricia Ward said her 19-year-old daughter and 23-year-old son were trying to revive Joseph when the police came in. "I think they could have saved Bam Bam," she complained. She said that while the family waited for an ambulance, police searched the house for Johnson, who was next door at his great-grandmother's house, watching.

Aliesha Ward said she was frustrated that police kept family out of the house. "They were more interested in getting Kevin then helping Bam Bam."

Paramedics treated Joseph and took him to a hospital.

Kirkwood police have declined to discuss their involvement in Joseph's care, or to release a report about it. A public records request for the document is pending.

Henrietta Kimble, Johnson's great-grandmother, said that after Joseph was taken away, Johnson returned and asked her how he was doing. "I told him that he didn't make it," Kimble, 81, said, "and he went out of the door running."

At about 7:30 p.m., McEntee drove his marked patrol car into the Meacham Park neighborhood in response to a call about someone with fireworks.

Dezara Miles, who lives there, told a reporter Thursday that she saw Johnson talking to his girlfriend on the sidewalk as she drove past the police officer in the 300 block of Alsobrook Street. As she pulled into the driveway about three houses away, she heard gunfire.

"When I looked up the street, everyone was running," she said.

Police said that as McEntee talked with a 13-year-old boy standing outside the driver's side door, Johnson walked to the passenger side and opened fire, wounding the sergeant and the teen, who was hit in the leg and is now recovering. McEntee's car drove west into the 300 block, clipped a parked car and stopped when it hit a tree.

Cecil Jones, who lives on the block, said he pulled the officer from the car and told someone to call 911.

Missy Sloan, 29, crawled into the officer's car and tried using his radio to call for help, her sister B.J. Wiley, said. And as the crowd gathered around the officer, Johnson walked up and shot him before taking the officer's gun.

Multiple witnesses said Johnson fired the additional shots before fleeing on foot.

One man who said he saw it happen described how bystanders tried to dissuade Johnson from the second volley. "People said, "Aw man, don't do that, don't do that again."

Police said Johnson escaped from the neighborhood in his SUV, which was found abandoned Wednesday in Ferguson. McEntee was pronounced dead later Tuesday at a hospital.

Nona King, a spokeswoman for Kirkwood School District, said Johnson had been a high school student there and played football in the fall of 2003, what should have been his senior year. He didn't earn enough credits to graduate, so he enrolled in fall 2004 in the district's Collaborative School, in Brentwood, an alternative program. She said he was in and out of that program during the last school year.

[Citicop]

Story Here

Kevin Johnson is in custody
By Heather Ratcliffe and Ron Harris
Of the Post-Dispatch



Updated at 6:15 p.m.:

Police have Kevin Johnson in custody and are transporting him to St. Louis County Police Headquarters in Clayton. His relatives had said he fatally shot a Kirkwood police sergeant while overwrought about the death of his brother from natural causes about 90 minutes earlier.

Watch for more details as they become available.

[Ruh]

hell yea!

Anyword on how they got him or should I just wait for that on the news?

[Bearcat06]

His relatives had said he fatally shot a Kirkwood police sergeant while overwrought about the death of his brother from natural causes about 90 minutes earlier.

Watch....that fuckstick will be using that as a legal move to get out of this....just like the idiot that shot the Missouri Trooper in KC a while back. He's trying to blame society for all his woes.....even though according to new reports, he was heading to the house of his old boss to off him... :rolleyes:

[Ruh]

He also has a history of violence. From the last article I posted here it says he was wanted for probation violation. I still can't believe the other person's comments about feeling left out of the community and stuff. I haven't lived here long but it looks like they have put A LOT in to that community. Including foot patrols at 930pm, I know because when I went on my first ride along we had to walk through the park there (Mecham park). Crazy if you ask me and this would show you why.

There are a good deal of good decent people there that want to get the area to lose the whole rep they have, but knuckleheads, like Johnson, keep giving the area a bad name.

[Ruh]

This is a poem created by one of Kirkwood's Police Dispatchers.



The measure of this man called "Mac", was not how tall he stood,
To friends & family whom Bill touched, this fact was understood.

Bill's depth of soul, his character, embodied his large frame.
With heart of gold, this gentle soul, was tragically reclaimed.

Six foot five, with sergeant stripes emblazoned on his sleeve,
Contagious laugh, & booming voice described Bill McEntee.

Just forty-three, his life cut short, by one cruel and senseless act.
We question why? We scream, we cry! We mourn the loss of Mac.

Through our pain, deep down inside, it's comforting to know,
That Jesus cradled William's face, NO Bill was not alone!

Jesus never left Mac's side, HE whispered "we must go."
And lovingly, he took Bill's hand and guided Mac back home.

And waiting there, with beer in hand, perhaps Von Hatten smiled
And said "hey Mac, I missed ya, have a seat and stay a while."
..
But NOW we're filled with sadness and such devastating pain,
And even through these tears we know, some day we'll meet again.

So Mac, we won't forget you, we were proud to call you friend.
We're at a loss to understand your senseless, tragic end.

All of kirkwood Rallies round to offcer you our THANKS.
You have left an aching void within the Kirkwood Ranks.

Chief Plummer, and the Kirkwood Police were proud to serve with you.
You measured MORE than six foot five. Goodbye! Ten-forty-two!

By Caren C. Sharpe (x #143)

[Ruh]

If anyone can, please explain to me in a PM how to post images into threads.

[Citicop]

Original Story

Kirkwood cop-killer sentenced to death
By William C. Lhotka
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
02/01/2008

CLAYTON -- A judge sentenced Kevin Johnson this morning to die by lethal injection for the murder of a Kirkwood police officer on July 5, 2005.

St. Louis County Circuit Judge Melvyn W. Wiesman imposed the death penalty that a jury recommended in November for the fatal shooting of Sgt. William McEntee. Wiesman rejected a plea by defense attorney Karen Kraft that the life of Johnson, 22, be spared.

In a coutroom crowded with family members of both the victim and the defendant, Wiesman heard impassioned victim impact statements from McEntee' sister, Jane, and his widow, Mary, and arguments by Kraft and Prosecuting Attorney Robert P. McCulloch for and against the death penalty.

Sgt. McEntee was 43, the father of three and a Kirkwood police officer for nearly 20 years.

Jane McEntee said she will never again hear her brother's ``big booming laugh or his big footsteps walking through the door.''

Refering to her two nephews left fatherless by the murder and their prowess in sports, Jane McEntee said: ``I will never see again the proud look on his face when his sons score a goal or make a basket or hit a homerun.''

Mary McEntee told Wiesman how devastated the family has been by her husband's death and the lack of any time for grieving because of all the trials and publicity.

``I am no longer the same mother I was,'' she added, ``There is not enough of me to go around.''

As tragic as the murder was, Kraft said, the death penalty was not justified and the jury's recommendation of death was ``arbitrary and caparicious...This was not a young man who sat for weeks to plot the revenge of his brother.''

Wiesman said: ``the sentence of death is the appropriate penalty.''

Johnson had already shot McEntee and shooting him again while he was disabled was an act of deliberation, Wiesman told the defendant.

At a trial last April, another jury had deadlocked between first and second-degree murder verdicts so Wiesman had ordered a mistrial.

In both trials, the defendant testified that he was distraught over the death earlier in the evening of July 5, 2005, of his half-brother, Joseph "Bam Bam"' Long, 12, who had died of a congenital heart condition.

Witnesses said they heard Johnson say he blamed police for Joseph's death. Johnson said he was in a trance-like state when he shot the police officer.

On the night he was gunned down, McEntee took another officer's call for a fireworks complaint that evening because he was closer to the Meacham Park neighborhood.
McEntee was talking to three juveniles when Johnson walked up to the police car, fired several shots into it, and walked away. Shot in the head and chest, McEntee still managed to get his car in gear and drive about 200 feet before he crashed.

McEntee got out of the car with help from neighbors but Johnson walked up to the officer, fired three more shots and killed him, witnesses testified and Johnson confirmed.

McCulloch told both juries that every shot Johnson fired amounted to cool deliberation, the necessary ingredient for first-degree murder.

Defense attorneys Robert Steele and Kraft argued that Johnson, distraught over his brother's death, was unable to reflect coolly or act deliberately that night.
No area judge has ever gone against jury wishes in death penalty cases in the 30 years since Missouri reinstated capital punishment. If Johnson receives the death penalty, Steele and Kraft get an automatic appeal to the Missouri Supreme Court.

They are expected to raise the issue of jury misconduct. Last month, Wiesman determined over their objections that Johnson was not entitled to a third trial just because a juror had known one of the witnesses, a crime scene detective who testified in the case.

The judge ruled that the juror had not seen the detective in three years, had never socialized with him, and did not intentionally mislead the court when she failed to mention before the trial began that she knew him.

McCulloch said the officer played only a minor role at the trial, telling the jury about the location and condition of bullet fragments.