Suspect dead after standoff with police in Sturgeon

STURGEON, Missouri (KMIZ)

On Tuesday, shots were fired in Sturgeon as police and other officers confronted a domestic violence suspect.

According to Captain Brian Leer of the Boone County Sheriff’s Office, the suspect was found dead in the home by police shortly before 7 p.m.

Leer said it is unknown if the suspect was killed by police officers or if he shot himself. The Missouri State Highway Patrol will investigate the case. No other injuries were reported.

The shots were fired after police officers from Sturgeon and Hallsville and Boone County surrounded a mobile home Tuesday afternoon. Leer confirmed that police returned fire after they were shot at.

Clouds of smoke were visible from the area.

“At various points, multiple law enforcement officers returned fire,” Leer said. “So we asked the Missouri State Highway Patrol DDCC (Division of Drug and Crime Control) to investigate and assist with the investigation. There were multiple agencies involved, so I cannot say at this time which officers were involved.”

A safety alert was sent to residents’ smartphones that the Boone County Sheriff’s Office had given the all-clear and that there was currently no threat to the public. Residents can return to their homes. Residents were asked to stay away from the exclusion zone during the lockdown.

Earlier in the day, authorities ordered Damion Linder to leave the house. Linder was charged Tuesday with second-degree domestic violence, unlawful use of a weapon and illegal possession of a weapon.

A probable cause statement says Linder slammed another person’s head into a toilet paper dispenser at a redacted address, causing a laceration. He is accused of then pointing a gun at that person’s head.

Jaden Coleman, an employee at the local Casey’s and a resident of the neighborhood for six years, told ABC 17 News she called emergency services when a woman entered Casey’s with blood on her head and hands.

“I was walking home from work and when I heard the gunshots, I ran into a neighbor’s house because I felt safe. Then I ran there (to her house) because my boyfriend is still there,” Coleman said at the scene. Her house is directly across the street from Linder’s apartment.

“I freaked out, we were in the crossfire,” Coleman said.

Several local residents said such activities are not common in the neighborhood or city.

“It was scary, nothing like that has ever happened before,” said Christian, who has lived here his whole life. “Something like that never, ever happens,” he said.

According to court and Missouri Department of Corrections records, Linder is on probation in Audrain County for concealing a crime and obstructing custody.

A bail memo filed in the case states that Linder was involved in a standoff with a SWAT team at the time the document was written.

The house that authorities surrounded on Tuesday is located in a mobile home park near Canada and Ruby streets in Sturgeon. A woman was taken out and put in an ambulance, but someone was still in the house shortly before 2 p.m.

EDITOR’S NOTE: One word in the graphic is misspelled, but we’re leaving it online for transparency.

Missouri State Highway Patrol officers later arrived at the scene.

An ABC 17 News reporter heard officers at the scene ordering the person under Linder’s name to come out. Shortly after 2 p.m., a series of shots rang out, but it was not clear who fired or if anyone was injured. The shots were heard as a Bearcat armored vehicle loaded with officers approached the trailer. Bullets had punctured the tires and the Bearcat had additional damage from gunfire.

A few minutes later, another series of shots was heard.

Two Columbia Police dogs and several Columbia Police Department vehicles were seen at the scene around 3:30 p.m.

Shortly after 4 p.m. shots were fired again, and after 5 p.m. and for about an hour another heavy volley of gunfire was heard.

The Bearcat and an ambulance left the scene at 7 p.m.

Leer could not confirm if any residential homes were damaged by gunfire. Neighbors have told ABC 17 News they see bullet holes in their windows. As of 7:30 p.m., crime scene tape was still in place at the home where the standoff occurred and several other homes.

A spokesman for the local Boone County Sheriff’s Office said police were called to the home because of a report of suspected domestic violence.

Check back later for updates on this breaking story.