MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL
a division of the
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

Troop A, 504 SE Blue Parkway, Lee's Summit, MO 64063


NEWS RELEASE

For further information please contact: Sgt. Bill W. Lowe
(816) 622-0800 ext. 273
A2011-31
June 1, 2011

EMPHASIS: Officer Involved Shooting In Saline County

On June 1, 2011, 3:48 p.m., Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers and Lafayette County deputies attempted to initiate a traffic stop on a suspect wanted in questioning of a homicide investigation that occurred earlier in the day in St. Joseph, Missouri. The suspect, Ty Arnold, 28, of St. Joseph, Missouri, was wanted in connection with the shooting death of his wife. Arnold was observed traveling eastbound on Interstate 70 near Higginsville, Missouri, by a Lafayette County deputy. The deputy followed Arnold as troopers responded to the area.

As the suspect vehicle passed by a stationary Missouri State Highway Patrol officer, the trooper got directly behind the suspect. The suspect exited onto southbound U.S. Highway 65 from eastbound Interstate 70. The trooper activated his emergency lights and a pursuit ensued. Arnold attempted to avoid spike strips deployed by a trooper by traveling through the median and turning around to travel north on U.S. 65. As the suspect did this, he fired several rounds at officers from his vehicle. As the pursuit continued north, the suspect began firing several rounds, indiscriminately, from his vehicle. The pursuit continued northbound on U.S. 65 from I-70 when the suspect's vehicle became disabled. The suspect exited his vehicle and fired rounds at troopers and a Lafayette County deputy striking their patrol vehicles. The suspect returned to his vehicle where he was found to be fatally injured from a gunshot wound. Three subjects, who were in the area at the time of the shooting, were injured as a result of Arnold firing at the officers. Two were transported by life-flight to University Hospital in Columbia, Missouri, and one was transported by ambulance to Sweet Springs Hospital in Sweet Springs, Missouri.

The autopsy of Arnold is scheduled to occur tomorrow morning [June 2, 2011] by the Boone County medical examiner. Members of the Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control are investigating the shooting incident.
(###)