Suspect
shot, killed after firing upon law officers
|
by Mark
Vasto
Landmark reporter
Missouri State Highway Patrol Troopers
shot and killed a 23-year-old Westboro, Missouri man
after a high-speed chase ended in a shootout just before
11 p.m. on Saturday along Interstate 29 in Platte County
near I-435.
The incident began just after 10:30 when
a trooper attempted to stop a Dodge pickup driven by
Seth L. Martin for speeding near the intersection of
I-29 and Highway 36 in Buchanan County. After the motorist
refused to pull over, troopers notified members of the
Platte County Sheriff’s Department, who then deployed
a tire deflation device known as a “stop stick”
near the 24-mile marker of the interstate.
The tire spikes, which are designed to
release air gradually from the tires, apparently took
effect on three tires but Martin was able to continue
southbound on I-29 for another 8-miles.
At the 16-mile marker, Martin allegedly
attempted to strike a trooper who was on foot deploying
another set of tire spikes in the roadway. After striking
the tire spikes, Martin continued south for about a
mile before losing control of the vehicle, sliding sideways
across the roadway and coming to rest in a southbound
driving lane of I-29.
Martin then exited his vehicle, firing
an M-16 assault rifle at authorities as he fled for
a grassy area to the side of the interstate, hitting
two patrol cars. Martin then sat down in the grass and
continued firing on the responding officers, which at
this point included four troopers and one sheriff’s
deputy.
The officers returned fire with their
standard issue service revolvers; one trooper is reported
to have used a shotgun. Martin was struck several times.
According to police, the gun battle lasted just a couple
of minutes and more than 60 rounds were fired.
Martin was airlifted to Truman Medical
Center. He was pronounced dead at 5:45 a.m Sunday. No
others were injured during the chase and subsequent
shooting.
The officers involved in the shooting
have been placed on routine administrative leave pending
completion of the investigation. The Missouri State
Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control
is investigating the shooting.
Authorities have reported that Martin
had a criminal history. He had a drug conviction and
was sentenced to seven years in prison in 2000. He served
120 days in prison before being allowed to serve his
time on house arrest. He had served under house arrest
since January of 2003.
He was wearing an electronic locating
device at the time of the shootout.
