18-year-old suspect killed during struggle with police identified; officer recovering from gunshot

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A Gladstone police officer shot during a traffic stop Sunday night is out of surgery and expected to make a full recovery, police say. However, the suspect police say struggled with the officer was fatally wounded and has been identified as Jacob Stevens, 18.

A Gladstone, Mo., police officer was shot during a traffic stop late Sunday near NW Vivion Road and U.S. 169.

According to Kari Thompson with the Kansas City Police Department, which is conducting the investigation, a Gladstone officer stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation at Vivion Road and U.S. 169 at about 10:34 p.m. Police say the passenger ran from the vehicle and Gladstone officers pursued the suspect on foot.

As officers attempted to take the suspect into custody a struggle ensued. During the struggle, the suspect displayed a handgun, shots were fired and Jacob Stevens was killed.

A Gladstone officer was also shot, but sustained non-life threatening injuries. He was transported to an area hospital for treatment.

Gladstone police tweeted Monday morning that the officer was out of surgery and is expected to make a full recovery following rehab. The police department also thanked everyone for their prayers.

Thanks to all for their prayers and calls of support. Our officer is out of surgery and is expected to make a full recovery following rehab.

— Gladstone MO Police (@gladstonedpsmo) November 21, 2016

The driver of the vehicle stopped for the traffic violation was taken into custody, but was later questioned and released.

Missouri lawmakers took to Twitter to express their support for police.

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon tweeted the news of the Gladstone shooting, less than an hour after he tweeted his support for the St. Louis officer shot earlier on Sunday.

Gladstone Mo cop shot tonight. Hopeful for recovery, Missourians pray and thank those who protect and run to danger

— Governor Jay Nixon (@GovJayNixon) November 21, 2016

Missouri Governor-Elect Eric Greitens said “a St. Louis Police Officer was ambushed this evening. Another officer in Gladstone shot while on traffic stop.” “We must always have the backs of those who keep us safe. Prayers with their families tonight.”

A St. Louis Police Officer was ambushed this evening. Another officer in Gladstone shot while on traffic stop (1/2)

— Eric Greitens (@EricGreitens) November 21, 2016

We must always have the backs of those who keep us safe. Prayers with their families tonight (2/2)

— Eric Greitens (@EricGreitens) November 21, 2016

The officer in Gladstone was the second police officer shot in Missouri on Sunday. A St. Louis officer was shot twice in the face in what is believed to be an ambush by a suspect who pulled up next to the officer’s squad car and fired. That officer is expected to survive.

At the hospital the 46-year-old St. Louis officer was conscious and able to give investigators a description of the suspect and vehicle. He told detectives he was driving down the street around 7:30 p.m. when a silver car pulled up on his driver’s side.

The St. Louis officer turned and saw the flash of the muzzle, then the bullets shattered his window. Two bullets hit him in the head, glass flew in his face, yet somehow he was able to stop without crashing and call for help.

St. Louis police flooded the streets looking for this suspect, and they found him. They tracked him down to a neighborhood, where they say the 19-year-old gunman fired shots at officers, and hit their patrol cars. Officers fired back as he ran off. That suspect was also fatally wounded.

Officers were also shot in San Antonio, Texas, and on Sanibel Island, Fla., bringing the total number of officers shot nationwide on Sunday to four.

Det. Benjamin Marconi was killed in the line of duty Sunday, Nov. 20.

The San Antonio police officer, 50-Year-old detective Benjamin Marconi, was shot and killed Sunday morning in his squad car while he was writing a ticket for someone he’d stopped. The police chief said the officer was shot twice in the head by the driver of another vehicle that pulled up behind him.

Police don’t believe the original motorist pulled over had any relationship to the shooter. Police say they have someone in custody for questioning, but they’re still asking for tips to find the man in the photo below. They say he is driving a black sedan.