By Antonio D. French
Filed Wednesday, April 25, 2007 at 10:13 AM
Surprisingly under-reported over the weekend was the realization of every police officer's (and their spouse) nightmare: a crazed gunman intent on killing a cop — or having a cop kill him.
Friday night at approximately 10:00, while top Democrats were wrapping up their annual Jefferson-Jackson dinner at the Renaissance Grand hotel just a few blocks away, a city traffic cop was parked at the southwest curb on Pine at Memorial when suddenly, a Dodge Intrepid traveling south on Memorial rammed the police car.
According to the police report, the officer inside quickly reached for his radio and announced that he had been struck. As the "Officer in need of Aid" was relayed, 21 year-old Mohammad Khaled Alwadi stepped out of the car he intentionally hit the police car with and opened fire at the officer trapped inside.
The officer returned fire. As the suspect was standing near the injured officer’s car, another officer arrived and Alwadi began firing at that officer. He then ran north on Memorial and encountered another officer. The suspect fired three to four shots at that officer striking the passenger side of the police vehicle. That officer returned fire.
Police say Alwadi continued running north on Memorial towards the Peabody Building where he encountered more St. Louis cops and fired shots at them. The officers returned fire, killing the suspect.
Contrary to early media reports that there were two suspects, police now say Alwadi acted alone.
The name of the first police officer from the accident has not been released. He has only been identified as a 36 year-old male officer with 5 years on the Department. He was conveyed to the hospital and is in stable condition. No other officers or citizens were injured the incident.
The incident is being called a unfortunately successful attempt at "suicide by cop", as police report that members of Alwadi's family claimed that he had spoke of committing suicide just before ramming the police vehicle.
Friday night at approximately 10:00, while top Democrats were wrapping up their annual Jefferson-Jackson dinner at the Renaissance Grand hotel just a few blocks away, a city traffic cop was parked at the southwest curb on Pine at Memorial when suddenly, a Dodge Intrepid traveling south on Memorial rammed the police car.
According to the police report, the officer inside quickly reached for his radio and announced that he had been struck. As the "Officer in need of Aid" was relayed, 21 year-old Mohammad Khaled Alwadi stepped out of the car he intentionally hit the police car with and opened fire at the officer trapped inside.
The officer returned fire. As the suspect was standing near the injured officer’s car, another officer arrived and Alwadi began firing at that officer. He then ran north on Memorial and encountered another officer. The suspect fired three to four shots at that officer striking the passenger side of the police vehicle. That officer returned fire.
Police say Alwadi continued running north on Memorial towards the Peabody Building where he encountered more St. Louis cops and fired shots at them. The officers returned fire, killing the suspect.
Contrary to early media reports that there were two suspects, police now say Alwadi acted alone.
The name of the first police officer from the accident has not been released. He has only been identified as a 36 year-old male officer with 5 years on the Department. He was conveyed to the hospital and is in stable condition. No other officers or citizens were injured the incident.
The incident is being called a unfortunately successful attempt at "suicide by cop", as police report that members of Alwadi's family claimed that he had spoke of committing suicide just before ramming the police vehicle.
Labels: Police
1 Comments:
Yeah... can I get you a fish sandwich?
4/26/2007 2:16 PM
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