Bob McCarty Writes

Sunday marked the two-year anniversary of the shootings at Kirkwood (Mo.) City Hall that left six dead, including two police officers and the gunman, and would later claim the life of Mayor Mike Swoboda.  A memorial walkway is under construction in Kirkwood at this time. To read my posts about the Kirkwood shootings, click here [...]

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After watching a local television station’s interview of City Attorney John Hessel, I couldn’t help but think how he and other victims of Thursday night’s shooting tragedy in Kirkwood, Mo., might have fared better with the help of concealed firearms. Taking place both outside and inside the St. Louis suburb’s city council building, the senseless [...]

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Mandy Murphey of KTVI-TV in St. Louis recorded a riveting video interview of Kirkwood City Attorney John Hessel who survived the Kirkwood City Hall shootings after standing face to face with gunman Charles Lee “Cookie” Thornton Thursday night. To watch the video, click here. *** To read other posts about the Kirkwood City Hall shootings, [...]

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When I spoke to Gerald Thornton this morning, his manner was cold and matter-of-fact. Perhaps, he was tired after answering questions from so many news media reporters, producers and photographers on the plaza across the street from Kirkwood City Hall this morning. Self-described as the “disabled” older brother of Kirkwood shooter Charles Lee “Cookie” Thornton, [...]

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I arrived in downtown Kirkwood, Mo., just after 10 o’clock local time this morning in time to receive a handout from Officer Tracy Panus of the St. Louis County Police Department. Printed on city letterhead, the handout — not a news release or background paper — spoke volumes about the bonds that tie the people [...]

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During the past 24 hours, I’ve offered reports — Shooting in Kirkwood, Missouri, Judge Ruled Against Kirkwood Shooter Days Ago and Morning Update on Kirkwood Shootings Offered — about the shooting spree by Charles Lee “Cookie” Thornton that left six dead and two wounded at Kirkwood (Mo.) City Hall near St. Louis. Now, I’m offering [...]

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Below are links to coverage of last night’s Kirkwood City Hall shootings by St. Louis-area media outlets: St. Louis Post-Dispatch — 6 dead in shooting rampage at Kirkwood City Council Assailant had history of disputes with city Slain councilwoman planned race for mayor Shootings draw eyes of the world to ‘small town’ again Reporter: “It [...]

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