Crime

Three police officers, suspect shot in southwestern Missouri: reports

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office arrested two women March 7, 2022, after seeing them throw something over a fence at the Orange Correctional Center in Hillsborough.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office arrested two women March 7, 2022, after seeing them throw something over a fence at the Orange Correctional Center in Hillsborough. Getty Images/iStockphoto

Three Joplin police officers and an armed suspect were injured during exchanges of gunfire Tuesday afternoon, according to area news reports.

Detective Brian Lewis told The Joplin Globe that there were separate shooting scenes around the southwestern Missouri city that began with an encounter with an armed suspect around 1:22 p.m. The suspect allegedly engaged with two police officers, fired gunshots and fled to another area.

The suspect allegedly engaged with officers again at another location, where another officer and the suspect were wounded, Lewis told the news outlet.

The officers and suspect were taken to area hospitals with gunshot wounds. The medical conditions of the officers and the suspect were not immediately available, according to The Globe

The Missouri State Highway Patrol has been called in to assist with the investigation.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Bill Lukitsch
The Kansas City Star
Bill Lukitsch covered nighttime breaking news for The Kansas City Star since 2021, focusing on crime, courts and police accountability. Lukitsch previously reported on politics and government for The Quad-City Times.
Get unlimited digital access
#ReadLocal

Try 1 month for $1

CLAIM OFFER