Posted: 7/6/2005 12:22:57 PM EDT
 www.stltoday.com/ 
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 Police Chief Jack Plummer said Sgt. William McEntee, left, who had been with Kirkwood Police since 1981, was ambushed and shot several times. The gunman is still being sought.  Kirkwood officer is shot, killed By Daphne Duret Of the Post-Dispatch 07/05/2005 Kevin Johnson  Kevin Johnson, a person of interest in the shooting of Kirkwood Police sergeant William McEntee is pictured in this undated handout photo from the Kirkwood Police Department. Questions, rumors and fears spread through a Kirkwood neighborhood today after a police sergeant was shot and killed by a gunman. Authorities continued their search today for a suspect identified by police as Kevin Johnson, also known as Kevin Tatum, 19, whose last known address was in the 400 block of Saratoga Street in Kirkwood. A vehicle that police believe was used by Johnson Tuesday night was found today in Ferguson. Sgt. William McEntee, 43, who had been with the Kirkwood Police Department since 1981, died of gunshot wounds late Tuesday night at St. John's Mercy Medical Center in Creve Coeur, said Kirkwood Police Chief Jack Plummer. He was shot several times. Authorities say the suspect has McEntee's gun. A boy also was injured during the shooting and treated at an area hospital, Plummer said. His condition was not released. Advertisement McEntee is the first member of the modern-day Kirkwood Police Department to die in the line of duty, but a Kirkwood town marshal, Patrick H. Gunning, was shot to death on the job on Oct. 11, 1898. Gunning was killed in a confrontation with loiterers he had told to move on, according a Post-Dispatch account from the time. By midday, dozens of flowers, balloons and notes adorned the lawn of the Kirkwood police department. Brenda Johnson, who is not related to suspect Kevin Johnson, said she was concerned that the suspect was at large. But mostly, she was grieving the loss of the officer, whom she called a friend. "He was real kind, gentle, always cared for people," Johnson said after leaving a balloon and flower arrangement. "He was just the greatest guy I ever knew." Police Capt. Diane Scanga said officers were going about their business, solemn but resolute. "They're dealing with it like anyone would deal with the loss of a family member," Scanga said. McEntee was responding to a fireworks disturbance about 7:30 p.m. when the shooting took place. Plummer said a man identified as Johnson 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 the suspect was wearing blue shorts and a red sweat shirt. He added that he 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 three. 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 last 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. McEntee was a married father of three children ages 7, 10 and 13, police said. The 6-foot-4-inch officer coached his children's little league teams. The Associated Press, as well as Heather Ratcliffe and Joel Currier of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report. Reporter Daphne Duret E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 314-340-8126 |