De Soto Police shot and killed a man who reportedly fired at them this morning (June 22) after they responded to a call about a domestic assault at a home in the 800 block of Clarke Street, authorities reported.
The deceased, Noah D. Sharp, 27, of St. Louis, was an ex-boyfriend of a woman who lives at the house where the gunfire was exchanged shortly after 8 a.m., said Grant Bissell, spokesman for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, which has taken over the investigation.
After the shootout, Bissell and De Soto Police Chief Jeff McCreary held a joint press conference, and Bissell said three De Soto Police officers responded to the call and upon arriving at the scene, found Sharp outside the house holding a handgun.
Officers told Sharp to drop the weapon, and he reportedly refused, raised the gun and discharged it, Bissell said.
“He fired at the officers,” he said. “They returned fire.”
Sharp was shot, walked to a police cruiser, opened the door and fell inside, Bissell said.
“It sounds like multiple officers returned fire,” he said. “We’re not sure yet how many.”
Sharp was pronounced dead at the scene, Bissell said.
He said investigators later came across information indicating that Sharp “did not intend to live through his encounter with the officers” and that “today’s outcome may have been pre-planned.”
One officer scraped his arm during the incident, Bissell added.
He said the three De Soto Police officers who responded to the scene are men, including a 31-year-old and a 37-year-old, both who have worked for the department for three and a half years, and a 34-year-old who has been with the department for two and a half years.
“This will be investigated thoroughly by our office,” Bissell said.
McCreary said the three officers have been placed on administrative leave pending the results of the Sheriff’s Office investigation.
He also said his initial impressions are that the officers acted properly.
“In this case, officers did what they needed to do and are going home to their families,” McCreary said.
He said the ex-girlfriend, 49, called police and said Sharp assaulted her.
Bissell said it appeared Sharp had lived part time at his ex-girlfriend’s home.