Local Police Officer Killed in the Line of Duty

By Rebekah Borio, Staff Writer


Family and friends mourn the loss of officer Thomas Bradley Arn, 28
(Photo taken by Alice Redko, Staff Photographer)


ST. JOSEPH, Mo -- An unidentified gunman on a shooting rampage killed a town police officer and critically injured four people before he was shot and killed by police in downtown St. Joseph last night.

The gunman began opening fire on the corner of 22nd and Frederick streets before starting south towards Calvary Baptist Church, stated Lt. Jim Connors of the St. Joseph police force.

Officer Bradley Thomas Arn, 28, was responding to the scene when his police car was riveted with seven bullets. One of the bullets broke through the back windshield of Arn’s patrol car and hit him in the back of the head. The shots killed him instantly, said police.

An eye witness to the scene, Norma Guthrie, said that she and her boyfriend were on their way to the store when a gunman opened fire. “We were following behind the police officer when we heard gunshots,” she said, “We ducked down and the officer tried to get away but he was shot and killed.”

Shortly after Arn was killed, three St. Joseph police officers chased the gunman into the yard next to Calvary Baptist. Upon firing a shot at the officers, the gunman was then shot and killed by an unidentified St. Joseph police officer.

Lt. Jim Connors said that authorities are using fingerprints to identify the gunman who was carrying no identification.

An internal review of the officer who fired the shot that killed the suspect is also under way. “This is standard procedure anytime an officer fires a weapon,” Conner’s said. He then praised the officer’s for a job well done, “They did a good job and did what they were trained to do.”

Officer Arn, who had been serving on the force for six years, leaves behind a wife and two twin daughters. Funeral services for Arn will take place on Friday at Good Sheppard Baptist Church.