'Stay with us Morton': Scanner audio captures moments of fatal Clinton police shooting

"Morton, stay with us. Stay with us Morton,” a Clinton police officer can be heard calling over the police radio to his fellow officer after gunfire erupted late Tuesday during a disturbance call, according to audio captured by Broadcastify.com.

The officers had responded to a 911 disturbance call. Officer Christopher Ryan Morton, 30, died at the scene. Two other officers were injured. A suspect in the shooting also died.

Officers were dispatched on a disturbance call between two women, according to audio of scanner traffic from Broadcastify.com.

The dispatcher advised that he could hear two women arguing over an open line. An officer responding to the scene asked dispatch whether any weapons were involved.

“They are not responding,” the dispatcher answered back. “I can’t tell. And they just disconnected.”

Another dispatcher advised that the sheriff was responding as well with “papers,” presumably warrants, for someone associated to the address.

After arriving at the scene, an officer asked dispatchers whether they were able to hear anything on the open phone line.

“We could just hear two females arguing,” a dispatcher said. “We’re not sure what they were saying.”

“Shots fired. Shots . . .” an officer said moments later.

Three gunshots could be heard before the officer’s transmission ended.

“Clinton cars, status?” a dispatcher asked.

When there was no immediate reply, she asked again.

“Clinton car status check?”

“Start an ambulance, we got one officer hit in the arm,” an officer responded.

A dispatcher sent EMS to the scene advising that the call involved “officer’s gunshot wounds.”

Meanwhile, officers tried to locate other members of their team.

“Nineteen, where you at?” one officer is heard asking.

“Backroom, right side,” Morton responded. “All the stuff in it.”

“Where are you?” the original officer asked.

“Backroom, right side, inside,” Morton responded.

The original officer asked, “You good.”

“No,” Morton responded. “I’m hit multiple times. One left arm. Both legs. The chest, the vest.”

“Central (dispatch), start me an ambulance,” the original officer said. “Step it up, get ‘em here now.”

Shortly thereafter, Morton advised that shots were still being fired in the house.

At one point, an officer asked Morton if he could make it out a window.

“I don’t think so,” Morton responded.

“Nineteen, where you at?” an officer asked.

“Backroom, I’m stuck,” Morton responded.

“Can you see the suspect?” another officer asked.

There was no reply on the Broadcastify.com recording.

A bit later, there was what sounded like more gunfire.

Then an officer advised dispatchers that, “19, 14 and 18 are all hit with assault rifle fire.”

“Nineteen, talk to us,” an officer said.

Meanwhile, an ambulance crew wanted to confirm with dispatchers that they knew it was en route.

“Stand by until scene secure,” the dispatcher said. “I believe there is still active fire.”

“Copy, we will be staging,” the ambulance crew responded.

The audio recording indicated that police were still in an active shooting situation.

“Crossfire guys, watch the crossfire guys,” an officer said.

That was followed shortly thereafter with an officer saying, “Morton, stay with us. Stay with us, Morton.”

“Central to Clinton cars on the scene, is it safe for EMS to come in?” a dispatcher asked. “Do we have any further on 19?”

“Negative. Negative,” an officer responded.

“We’re still in a fight,” an officer said. “We still have one down inside. We can’t get to him.”

“10-4. I got an ambulance staged in the area,” a dispatcher responded. “I’m on with LifeFlight requesting a second bird.”

Shortly after, the air ambulance advised they could not fly because of the weather.

Officers then request dispatchers to request a tactical team from the Missouri Highway Patrol.

This story was originally published March 7, 2018 at 10:59 AM with the headline "'Stay with us Morton': Scanner audio captures moments of fatal Clinton police shooting."