On Mar. 9 the Cuba Police Dept. and the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department received information  that a subject wanted on a felony warrant from the state of Texas was in the Cuba area. The suspect was reportedly armed, dangerous, and would shoot at law enforcement officers. The suspect, a white male, was reportedly driving a dark colored, Ford pickup, with a camper and bearing Texas license plates.

At approximately 10:40 a.m., that same day, Cuba police officers and Crawford County deputies located the suspect at a business in Cuba. When approached, the suspect fled in his truck, dragging a Cuba police officer for a short distance. The suspect continued onto Interstate 44, traveling west, with Cuba police and Crawford County deputies prusuing. Shortly thereafter, Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers also became involved in the pursuit. Tire spike strips were deployed at approximately the 200-mile marker on I-44 the vehicle traveled off  the right side of the highway and stopped. There, the suspect exited his truck while pointing a pistol at himself. The suspect then pointed the weapon at officers and fired. Deputies and trooper returned fire, striking the suspect.
The suspect was transported to the Phelps County Regional Medical Center by ambulance, where he was later pronounced dead.

The investigation by th Crawford County Sherill’s Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control continues. The trooper involved in the shooting was not injured, and has been placed on routine administrative leave pending completion of the investigation.