At the request of 22nd District Attorney General Brent Cooper, TBI Agents continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding an officer-involved shooting tonight in Lawrence County.
The incident occurred at the intersection of South Ball Park Road and Mount Nebo Road in St. Joseph, where preliminary information indicates an officer from the Loretto Police Department was responding to a burglary-in-progress call. Upon his arrival, the officer reportedly saw a vehicle leaving the scene at a high rate of speed through a ditch in the direction of the officer and his vehicle. The suspect’s vehicle collided with the officer’s, after which the officer appears to have fired his service weapon several times, striking the suspect at least once. The suspect has been hospitalized with injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening. No law enforcement officers were injured in the incident.
TBI Special Agents will gather any and all relevant interviews and evidence as part of this ongoing investigation. Throughout the process, Agents will submit investigative findings to the District Attorney General for his review and consideration. As a reminder: The TBI only acts as ‘fact-finders’ in its investigation. The determination as to whether the law enforcement officers’ actions were justified rests solely with him. Additionally, the TBI does not identify officers involved in these types of incidents and instead refers questions of that nature to their respective department.
Updates on this investigation will be posted online at TBINewsroom.com as they are available.
TBINewsroom.com 