St. Louis officer fatally shot in early morning gunfight
AFFTON, Mo. – A St. Louis County Police Officer was fatally shot after responding to a disturbance early Thursday morning, reports CBS affiliate KMOV.
According to Officer Benjamin Granda, the suspect fired at 33-year-old Blake Snyder almost immediately after he arrived at the scene around 5 a.m. Another officer returned fire, striking the suspect.
“From the time the suspect made it from the house to car, that’s where Ofc. Snyder encountered him,” Chief Jon Belmar said. “Ofc. Snyder, we believe at this point in the investigation, gave the suspect some commands because he couldn’t see his hands. The suspect produced a pistol and he shot Ofc. Snyder point-blank. It was an immediately fatal wound.”
Ofc. Snyder had a wife and 2-year-old son, according to St. Louis County Police Department Chief Jon Belmar.
This is the first line-of-duty death in the St. Louis County Police Department since October 31, 2000, when Sergeant Richard Weinhold was killed.
The suspect’s identity has not been released.