Before shooting, Belton police entered trailer to confront man who had a machete
A man shot by a Belton police officer at a trailer park over the weekend had called 911 and allegedly told dispatchers that he was going to kill his mother, according to court documents.
Cass County prosecutors charged 54-year-old William D. Mallow with two counts of first-degree assault or attempted assault after he allegedly approached two Belton police officers while wielding a machete, according to the court documents.
The shooting stemmed from a disturbance about 8 a.m. Sunday at a home in the 7500 block of the Crown Trailer Park. After police arrived and saw Mallow’s mother safe outside the home, two officers entered the trailer, forced their way into Mallow’s bedroom, and shot him, according to a probable cause statement filed with the charges.
Mallow was seriously injured and remained hospitalized Tuesday, according to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, which was investigating the shooting.
According to court documents:
Mallow allegedly called 911 and told a dispatcher that he was going to kill his mother, providing his name and address along with the name of his mother. While on the phone, Mallow allegedly said he wanted to die.
“You’re going to have to carry me out in a body bag,” Mallow allegedly said.
He also allegedly said: “You better start coming in this (expletive) shooting cause I’m tired of living, I’m going to kill the first (expletive) that comes through the door.”
Mallow allegedly said he had a machete and that police were going to have to pry it out of his cold dead hand.
Shortly after, Belton police officers Eric Fernandez and Arron McEwen arrived and spoke with Mallow’s mother outside the home. She told him that Mallow was in his bedroom.
Fernandez and McEwen then entered the home and as they walked down the hallway, they heard Mallow yelling and cursing. He allegedly said he was going to kill them if they go in.
Fernandez forced his way into Mallow’s bedroom and saw him holding a machete. Fernandez told Mallow to show them his hands twice, which Mallow responded: “You have my (expletive) hands.”
Fernandez then told Mallow a third time to show them his hands. At that point, Mallow allegedly advanced toward the officers and Fernandez fired twice, injuring Mallow.
Fernandez and McEwen then rendered first aid. Emergency medical workers took Mallow to the hospital.
Bond has been set at $250,000 cash.
The shooting was at least the fourth time this month that police in the Kansas City metropolitan were involved in a shooting. That includes the fatal shooting of Overland Park police officer Mike Mosher, who was killed in a shootout with hit-and-run suspect. The suspect, Phillip Michael Carney, also died in the shooting.
Gun violence will be the subject of a new, statewide journalism project The Star is undertaking in Missouri this year in partnership with the national service program Report for America. As part of this project, The Star will seek the community’s help.
To contribute, visit Report for America online at reportforamerica.org.
This story was originally published May 19, 2020 at 1:06 PM.
