April 21st, 2025 Local News
Jefferson Co., Mo. (KFMO) - Jefferson County Sheriff Dave Marshak has announced simultaneous investigations into an officer-involved shooting and a homicide in Jefferson County, involving the Festus and Crystal City Police Departments.
Around 11:10 a.m. on Sunday, December 8, Festus officers responded to a report of gunfire in the 1000 block of Veterans Blvd. They located the suspect vehicle, a grey Dodge Ram pickup, on Highway A and attempted a traffic stop. The driver refused to comply, leading to a pursuit.
Crystal City officers joined the pursuit as the truck traveled south on Highway 61/67. The chase ended when the truck crashed into a concrete divider. The driver, who was wearing body armor and armed, exited the vehicle and began shooting. Crystal City Police Chief Chad Helms confirmed that two Crystal City officers returned fire, striking the man and stopping the threat. The suspect was transported to a local hospital for treatment. No officers were injured during the incident.
"I appreciate the efforts of all law enforcement involved here, and I'm glad the public is safe," said Chief Helms.
While securing the vehicle, officers discovered the body of an unidentified woman inside the cab. According to investigators, she is believed to have been deceased before the shooting and was not involved in the gunfire. The Regional Medical Examiner’s Office is working to determine her cause and time of death.
"We are so thankful for the police officers who put themselves at risk for our community," said Sheriff Marshak. "We'll be working with all of our partners in this community to make sure the investigation is comprehensive and that we figure out what happened."
This is an active investigation, and authorities are seeking assistance. Anyone with video footage of the initial shots fired incident, the officer-involved shooting, or eyewitness accounts is encouraged to contact the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Detective Bureau at crimetips@jeffcomo.org.
