#Suspected St. Louis cop killer hit with numerous charges, including murder

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Thomas Kinworthy Jr.
St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department via AP

A man accused of killing a St. Louis cop and injuring another during a lengthy stand-off at a home was charged with murder on Tuesday.

Thomas Kinworthy Jr., 43, was arrested Sunday after allegedly fatally shooting a 29-year-old officer, Tamarris Bohannon, and injuring another, Arlando Bailey, while he barricaded himself in a home he had invaded Saturday evening, the St. Louis American reported.

The officers were responding to the scene around 6:30 p.m. after reports that Kinworthy had allegedly opened fire on a civilian at the scene. Kinworthy was placed under arrest 11 hours later, after the standoff finally ended, around at 5:30 a.m.

Baily, who was shot in the leg, was treated at a local hospital.

Bohannon’s family called the officer “hero to many but most importantly to his loving wife and three incredible children” in a touching handwritten note released by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.

“The loss of this great man is felt deeply within the St. Louis community and we ask for your prayers and support in the days ahead,” the letter read.

In addition to his murder charge Kinworthy, was also slapped with charges of assault of a law enforcement officer, burglary, three counts of Armed Criminal Action, Resisting/Interfering with Arrest, and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.

He is being held in custody without bail.

Kinworthy has a lengthy criminal history that dates back to drug offenses in Missouri from the 1990s, KMOV4 reported. He spent six years in prison in the 2000s after he was found guilty on a charge of aggravated battery with a firearm for shooting at a man during a road rage incident.

After his release, he was reportedly caught and convicted for exposing himself to an undercover officer in 2009 in Florida.

Earlier this year, in January, he was charged for attempted sexual battery and kidnapping of a victim he was accused of choking, according to the outlet.

Kinworthy had an active warrant for his arrest for failing to make a court appearance related to the case.

“The defendant is a convicted felon. He has a conviction for felony Possession of a Controlled Substance in St. Louis County,” Detective Tracey Chaney said in a probable cause statement, the American reported.

“I believe the defendant is a danger to the community because of the violent nature of the offenses and his criminal history,” Chaney went on. “I believe the defendant will not appear on a summons because he is a wanted fugitive from the State of Florida.”