Two Police Officers Were Shot in St. Louis Yesterday; One Has Now Died

By Susie Moore | 11:30 PM on August 30, 2020

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AP featured image — FILE – In this June 20, 2018, file photo, visitors stand outside a new entrance below the Gateway Arch in St. Louis. A newly expanded museum beneath the Arch is set to be open to the public on July 3 and is the final piece of a massive $380 million renovation of the grounds surrounding and entrance to the iconic monument. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)

His name is Tamarris Bohannon. He was 29 years old and had been serving as an officer with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department when he was gunned down in the line of duty here yesterday evening.

As KMOV TV reports:

St. Louis Police Chief John Hayden said Bohannon and other officers were responding to a shooting call in the 3700 block of Hartford Street shortly before 6 p.m. Saturday just south of Tower Grove Park. While they were looking for a victim, they heard gunfire and Bohannon was hit in the head and went to the ground.

The gunman shot a second officer in the leg when he and others were going to assist Bohannon. The officer, who is 30 years old, was taken to a hospital and later released on Sunday.

The gunman was taken into custody but has not yet been identified by name, pending charges. Reports are that he is a 43-year-old man with an extensive criminal record.

As noted by KMOV, Bohannon is the first St. Louis City police officer killed in the line of duty since 2011. Eight STLPD officers have been shot in 2020 so far.

The announcement from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department came just after 8:00 pm (Central) this evening:

It is with the heaviest of hearts that we report that our critically injured officer has died.

We cannot express how much we appreciate the hospital staff who continuously treated both officers for their injuries.

Thank you all for your continued thoughts & prayers! pic.twitter.com/8zWwE2aVqH

— St. Louis, MO Police (@SLMPD) August 31, 2020

The Department shared more about Officer Bohannon, including a note from his family:

A letter from the family of Officer Tamarris L. Bohannon. https://t.co/wqk7LAQXMx pic.twitter.com/J902dj415w

— St. Louis, MO Police (@SLMPD) August 31, 2020

The senseless killing of this officer (and shooting of his fellow officer) is both maddening and heartbreaking, particularly coming on the heels of the March for Peace held in downtown St. Louis just a few hours before this shooting. As I reported earlier today, Ann Dorn, the widow of Captain David Dorn (retired) who was gunned down during rioting in St. Louis in early June, organized a Peace Walk, calling for unity and peace in our city.