off duty Missouri cop fires gun in air at kids Halloween event

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Matthew McCulloch, a police officer with the St. Louis County Police in Missouri, has been charged with 11 felony counts, including endangering the welfare of children, unlawful use of a weapon, and first-degree terrorist threat after the shooting on October 15, according to the criminal complaint.

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Court documents allege that McCulloch started harassing people during a "Trunk-or-Treat" event for elementary school kids in Kirkwood, Missouri. The documents said hundreds of parents and children were present.

McCulloch "aggressively approached" multiple partygoers before threatening a man and his wife; the man then shoved McCulloch in the chest, causing him to fall to the ground, the court documents said.

McCulloch then, "while surrounded by hundreds of children, stood up, pulled up his shirt to display a handgun and badge, then began firing his weapon in an upward direction approximately a dozen times while shouting that the attendees would die," the court documents said.

Corey Schonhorst, a parent who was there, told the KDSK McCulloch had a "menacing grin" when he fired the shots and waited for the crowd to react.

https://www.insider.com/missouri-cop-charged-fired-gun-during-kids-halloween-party-2023-10


Police have not released a possible motive for the incident, saying only that McCulloch allegedly yelled “you’re all going to die,” to the hundreds of people and children who were at the event at North Kirkwood Middle School.

Moments before shots were fired, McCulloch threatened a woman whose husband then shoved him to the ground, according to court documents.

McCulloch then stood up, lifted his shirt exposing his gun and badge before pointing it in the air and firing about a dozen shots, according to the documents.

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McCulloch is the son of former St. Louis County Prosecutor Robert “Bob” McCulloch. His uncle, Joe McCulloch, is the prosecutor in St. Charles County.

None of his family members attended Tuesday’s arraignment, but the family released a statement Monday stating it was praying for those who are now coping with the mental trauma of the event.

Matthew McCulloch has been with the St. Louis County Police Department since 2017 and has been suspended without pay since Monday.

https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/crime/shooting-kirkwood-halloween-event-mcculloch/63-4ab52a50-b477-48b5-8974-6efd1130f5f6