JOPLIN, Mo. (March 8, 2022) – One Joplin Police Officer and the suspect involved in today’s shooting have died. That’s according to Jasper County Coroner Randy Nace. Their names were not released.

This evening, the Joplin Police Department stated that two officers are still in the hospital. One is in critical condition, the other is in serious but stable condition. They are withholding names at this time.

Shots fired at 2 scenes in Joplin

Assistance Police Chief Brian Lewis with JPD spoke to the media this afternoon.

Lewis says the initial information on this is that around 1:22 pm today, police officers responded to a disturbance near 4th and Rangeline Road near the Buckle. There, they encountered a person who they identified as being involved in the disturbance.

As officers tried to take him into custody, he shot two officers and fled the scene in a stolen patrol car.

Officer and suspect dead, 2 officers in hospital after Joplin shooting

1 of 6

Officers tried to stop the fleeing suspect.

The suspect then wrecked the patrol car and ran on foot to the area of 9th and Connecticut. Officers once again located the suspect and he fired shots at the officers, injuring one. That’s according to the Joplin Police Department.

An officer returned fire and hit the suspect.

EMS took three officers and the suspect to local hospitals.

The Missouri Highway Patrol is actively working the scene. Lewis says there are three scenes connected to this incident. Police say there is no further threat to the public.

Officials plan to hold a news conference in the morning around 9:00 am (March 9).

Related:

(Corrected to show two officers hit at first location.)

COPYRIGHT 2022 BY KOAM NEWS NOW. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.