The Kirkwood City Hall Shooting
On February 7, 2008 tragedy struck Kirkwood, MO.
Charles Lee “Cookie” Thornton arrived at Kirkwood City Hall for the City Council meeting and while walking to the chambers, saw Kirkwood Police Officer Sgt. William Biggs walking outside. Thornton approached Sgt. Biggs and shot him with a .44 Magnum revolver. Before he was fatally shot, Sgt. Biggs pressed a distress signal on his radio. Thornton proceeded to take Sgt. Biggs’ .40 caliber handgun before he went into the City Council Chambers.
Thornton concealed his weapons as he entered the City Council Chambers. Thornton then pulled out the guns and shot Officer Tom Ballman in the head. Over the next 1 minute 13 seconds, Thornton unleashed close range fire on members of the City Council.
Thornton fired 15 shots, killing Council members Connie Karr and Michael H.T. Lynch, and Public Works Director Ken Yost. Mayor Mike Swoboda was shot twice in the head and died seven months later, unable to fully recover from the wounds to his head. Suburban Journals reporter Todd Smith was also shot in the hand and released from the hospital within 24 hours.
Officers from the Kirkwood Police Department responded quickly and Thornton was killed in the Chambers from two gunshot wounds before he could shoot anyone else.
Kirkwood City Hall Shooting Investigative Report
Below is a short news clip from the day after the shooting.
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Sources:
http://www.kmov.com/justposted/stories/kmov_localnews_080808_kirkwood_shootings_report.295d8a81.html
http://www.websterkirkwoodtimes.com/Articles-i-2008-02-15-74098.113117_A_Community_Mourns.html
http://www.stlmag.com/media/St-Louis-Magazine/May-2008/Why-Did-Cookie-Thornton-Kill/