Whiteman airman killed in Warrensburg, Missouri, double shooting: ‘True heroism’
An airman stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base was killed in a double shooting in Warrensburg Wednesday morning while intervening in a domestic disturbance before police arrived on scene, according to Warrensburg police.
Around 7:20 a.m., officers were dispatched to 700 Cedar Drive after the Johnson County, Missouri, Central dispatch received two simultaneous calls about a domestic disturbance, according to police. Officers found an armed suspect walking south toward East Hale Lake Road who fired his weapon multiple times at officers as they arrived on scene, police said.
Officers did not return fire, and first responders were not harmed in the incident, police said.
Airman Tony Barron, who police called “[a] courageous bystander,” was allegedly shot and killed by the suspect before officers arrived, according to police. A woman involved in the domestic disturbance was treated for injuries at Western Missouri Medical Center and released.
“We commend Mr. Barron for his extraordinary courage,” Warrensburg police said in its statement. “Through his decisive and selfless actions, he not only protected the initial victim but likely prevented further harm to our community.
“Mr. Barron’s bravery stands as an example of true heroism.”
Police advised local schools and businesses to lock down and a perimeter was established, police said. The suspect was found dead in a wooded area south of the home from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, authorities believe, a little more than an hour later at 8:36 a.m.
Warrensburg police, along with other agencies, are actively investigating the incident. The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, University of Central Missouri Department of Public Safety, Missouri State Highway Patrol and Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office are among the numerous agencies that responded to the incident, police said.
The 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman AFB is also cooperating with police, the wing released in a statement.
Warrensburg High was the first school that locked down when the shooting occurred, according to a letter sent to families from Warrensburg R-VI School District Superintendent Dr. Steve Ritter.
“Students were sheltered in classrooms and staff secured doors for several minutes until law enforcement confirmed it was safe to resume normal classroom activities,” Ritter said in the statement.
Other schools were in limited lockdown procedures: normal operations continued inside, but access to the buildings were restricted.
Buses were temporarily directed away from Maple Grove Elementary after it was identified as an area of concern while law enforcement continued their response, Ritter said. A few bus routes were also delayed but were completed as quickly as possible.
A GoFundMe fundraiser set up for Barron’s family by The Burg, a Facebook group for Warrensburg residents, has acquired nearly $18,000 of its $50,000 goal. A Meal Train fundraiser is also set up for volunteers to deliver food to the family and has collected $120 of its $2,500 goal.
Barron was described as a son, a father, a friend, and also an Army veteran on the GoFundMe page.
“To those who knew him, he was the kind of person who would drop everything to help someone else,” a statement said on the fundraiser. “His final moments reflected exactly who he was every day: brave, compassionate, and willing to stand up for others.”
