2 dead in shooting after crash in SW Missouri town

He shot. There was gunfire and smoke. I was shaking so bad, it was horrible. I could not believe what I was seeing A driver involved in a crash shot to death a man who stopped to offer help, then opened fire on a police officer before he was killed by the injured officer, authorities said. The Missouri State Highway Patrol said Joseph M. Rich, 55, of Aurora , stopped to help after seeing an accident between a sport utility vehicle and a pickup at the intersection of Route ZZ and a local street Friday afternoon. The patrol said the gunman, Jesse Miller, 30, of Marionville, shot Rich, then walked along the road toward Marionville with a shotgun in hand as Marionville police officer Andy Clark approached in his patrol car. Read more

[Marilyn]

How many lives do you suppose Officer Clark saved? A local hero for sure.

[kevin]

big mike was a great guy. he will be missed around here.

[George Emerson]

kevin wrote:

big mike was a great guy. he will be missed around here.

he was a good friend of mine, and will be greatly missed

[George Emerson]

he was a good friend of my and will be greatly missed.

[Truth Hurts]

Quote from Council person Kaye Leffingwell,"There is no crime in Marionville." Quote from Councilman TC Corning,"We don't need these police because Marionville is like Mayberry." Are you aware that Leffingwell went to the police station daily to tell the chief and officers she didn't vote for them and didn't want them there. Are you aware that she publically humiliated the Chief regularly at council meetings,until he left. Are you aware that Mayor Candidate Arensmeyer filed dozens of privacy requests on the police chief to harrass him,threated to use his,"KC lawyer" to sue him if he didn't approve of the responses,and carried a picture of the police chief and his family around,taken in church,and showed it to people and made derogatory remarks.

[friend of hero]

ofiicer clark is also a firefighter here and he his a hero.if he had not been there who knows what would have happened.i think he should get a medal of valor I also feel for the friends and family of big mike from what i hear he was a great person and artist and may he rest in peace.

[Used to live there]

Hey Truth Hurts: Sounds like the regular ol' crap from the city government down there. I hate to say it, but even this will not shut their mouths. They know the police have more direct power than them and they dont like it one bit. I always wondered why Aurora didnt swallow up the town anyway. At least they have had a police department for year, all be it controversial. If it had been a counselman to pull up on that accident and get shot I'm sure action would be taken. But get ready for more of the same from the poor indegents that run that town.

[Carol Jones]

There is something about this that doesn't meet the eye. Aurora , MO

[honored citizen]

Thank you Officer Clark for protecting our town and handling the situation in the manner you did. I believe because of your heroism that you may have saved many other lives and/or injuries to other! THANK YOU FOR A JOB WELL DONE!!!!

[susan]

CRAZY THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS COULD HAPPEN CLEARLY THE MAN WAS NOT IN A STATE OF MIND AND HAS ISSUES NEEDED HELP. THANK GOD FOR THE OFFICER THERE MAY HAVE BEEN MORE BLOOD SHED IF HE DID NOT DO HIS JOB .

[FRIENDS OF MIKE]

"MIKE" IS THE TRUE HERO HERE. A MAN WITH A HEART OF GOLD WHO WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR ANYBODY. TRYING TO HELP SOMEONE IN NEED AND HIS LIFE IS TAKEN IN THE PROCESS. HE WILL BE TRULY MISSED BY ALL HIS FRIENDS IN NEIGHBORING TOWNS AND THE TATTOO WORLD. MAY GOD HOLD A SPECIAL PLACE FOR YOU MY FRIEND!

[Willard]

Carol Jones wrote:

There is something about this that doesn't meet the eye. Aurora , MO

A lot that will never be explained. The cop did not have to shoot to kill.

[Mike]

Willard wrote:

<quoted text>
A lot that will never be explained. The cop did not have to shoot to kill.

But was perfectly justified in doing so.

[Ozarkian]

Willard wrote:

<quoted text>
A lot that will never be explained. The cop did not have to shoot to kill.

Let me see, he had already killed one person and shot another. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that 'shoot to kill' was the appropriate strategy.

[Mike]

Ozarkian wrote:

<quoted text>
Let me see, he had already killed one person and shot another. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that 'shoot to kill' was the appropriate strategy.

Exactly. The taser just doesn't fit into the equation anymore.

[Ozarkian]

Mike wrote:

<quoted text>
Exactly. The taser just doesn't fit into the equation anymore.

I like it when there are practical common sense people online. Good call Mike.