Police arrest two suspects in officer-involved shooting

Police tape blocks the scene where a suspect involved in a Sunday afternoon shooting in the Fredericktown Walmart’s parking lot was reportedly holed up. (Hailey Fite)

Highway Patrol investigating the case

SARAH HAAS, shaas@dailyjournalonline.com

An officer-involved shooting took place Sunday afternoon in the Fredericktown Walmart parking lot, according to a Facebook post from the Fredericktown Police Department. Two suspects are in custody.

At about 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, the department reported, shots were fired at 1025 Walton Dr.

One of the suspects was arrested on the scene, but the other fled in what was reported as a black Pontiac passenger car. The suspect was later apprehended at a home in Madison County at 9:50 p.m. that evening.

“Both suspects are currently in custody and no longer a danger to the public,” reported Police Chief Eric Hovis. “Missouri State Highway Patrol (DDCC) is investigating the incident.”

One eyewitness on the scene said police had repeatedly ordered one of the suspects to drop a weapon.

Hailey Fite, who said she lives in the neighborhood where the second suspect was apprehended, said the area is about five minutes from the Walmart parking lot where the shooting took place. She said the scene was watched by many neighbors from about 4 p.m. until 9:50 p.m., when the suspect reportedly came out of the dwelling.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol and Fredericktown Police were set up at the house five minutes away from the Walmart parking lot, reportedly waiting more than five hours for the second suspect to come out. (Hailey Fite)

At first, she said via Facebook Messenger, “I genuinely had no idea what was happening; I had went outside to let my dog out and my neighbor was being one of those ‘stand on the lawn vacuuming’ kinds of people by rearranging rocks to be nosey without bluntly doing it, then I seen all the vehicles outside the house.

“It was definitely scary seeing more and more vehicles show up, including an armored truck. One of the troopers came over and put tape up and people started pulling in our driveway to be nosey with us; then one filled me on in the whole ordeal and my mom just happened to know the name of the guy in the house; and it matched what I had seen about the Walmart shooting. I was very fearful he would come out of the house blazing and may hit my dog (me too, but mostly my dog, lol).”

This story is developing and will be updated as more information is accumulated.