Former St. Louis County prosecutor’s son charged after shots fired at Kirkwood trunk-or-treat event
Court documents say children ran for cover after shots were fired into the air
KIRKWOOD, Mo. (KMOV) – Matthew McCulloch, a St. Louis County police officer and son of former St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch, has been charged with 11 felony counts after shots were fired at a trunk-or-treat event Sunday in Kirkwood, court documents show.
The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Matthew McCulloch with five counts of armed criminal action, four counts of endangering the welfare of a child creating a substantial risk, and one count each of a terrorist threat and unlawful use of a weapon.
A probable cause statement against Matthew McCulloch alleges he told multiple people, “you are all going to die” at the trunk-or-treat event. It says he began harassing people in the parking lot while hundreds of children and adults were there. The statement goes on to say that Matthew McCulloch was shoved to the ground after threatening a witness and the witness’s wife.
Matthew McCulloch then pulled up his shirt to show a handgun and a badge, the statement alleges, and fired shots in the air “approximately a dozen times while shouting that the attendees would die.”
Corey Schonhorst said he saw a parent pull out a handgun, fire it once and then wait.
“Once he saw the reaction, his smile got bigger. It was very deranged,” he said.
Children told First Alert Four that they saw the gun and then ran.
“I only saw it go off once, but I heard it multiple other times,” said Daphne Dysarz.
Matias Mirant Borede said, “I just saw a puff of smoke and everyone running, so I ran as well.”
The court document says several people at the event tackled Matthew McCulloch and took his gun.
READ CHARGING DOCUMENTS:
Matthew McCulloch was placed on unpaid istrative leave from the St. Louis County Police Department, Chief Kenneth Gregory said in a statement Monday.
The Missouri Department of Public Safety’s Peace Officer Standards and Training Program requested certified copies of documents in the officer’s case, according to a letter to the Circuit Court of St. Louis County, obtained by First Alert 4. The information was requested “to determine if there is sufficient evidence to file a complaint with the Attorney General’s Office to discipline Mr. McCulloch’s peace officer certification, and possible emergency suspension of his peace officer license.”
Shots were fired at Tillman Elementary School’s trunk-or-treat event that was held at the Kirkwood North Middle School parking lot around 5 p.m., according to the Kirkwood Police. The suspect was tackled and detained by other eventgoers, police said.
Matthew McCulloch started working as a police officer in the county in December of 2017, a department spokesperson said.
St. Louis County Police Chief Kenneth Gregory released the below statement after the charges were announced:
“We were disappointed to learn that the actions of one of our officers caused a disturbance in the City of Kirkwood on Sunday. In a profession where we are called to keep the peace, this display of disregard for safety is concerning. We are very grateful that no one was hurt.
Per Department policy, at this time, the officer has been placed on unpaid istrative leave pending an internal investigation conducted by our Bureau of Professional Standards.”
Matthew McCulloch’s father, Bob McCulloch, served as St. Louis County prosecuting attorney from 1991 until 2019. His uncle, Joe McCulloch, was named St. Charles County prosecuting attorney earlier this year.
Bob McCulloch and his family released the following statement Monday afternoon:
“While we do not yet know all of the details, it is our understanding that our son was involved in an incident at North Kirkwood Middle School in which several shots were fired into the air.
“Please know that we will be eternally grateful that no one was physically injured. However, we also are painfully aware that an incident such as this can and does cause significant emotional trauma to those, especially children and their parents, who witness such an event. Our thoughts and prayers are with those victims.
“This incident has had an incredible emotional impact on so many people, including our family. We are also confident that the Kirkwood Police Department will conduct a complete and thorough investigation and we ask that the public and the media be patient while the investigation continues.
“We will have no further statement.”
Attorney Brian Millikan confirmed to First Alert 4 that he is representing Matthew McCulloch.
Pepe Saldana, who lives right next to Kirkwood North Middle School, said after he heard loud bangs, he wondered if it was fireworks. But he eventually saw adults and children running from the school and realized it was gunshots.
“People were terrified. And was like no, no, no, no, this is Kirkwood, it cannot be happening in Kirkwood, right?” said Saldana.
People gathered at the event, including children, ran for cover after the shots rang out, court documents state. School personnel gathered children who had been separated from their parents to shelter them.
One parent said the fear she experienced on Sunday turned to anger on Monday.
“They were so excited, they worked so hard on this event. To see the happiness suddenly switch to this scared and tears, you know it’s really hard to see that,” said Victoria Dysarz
Tillman Elementary School canceled classes and activities on Monday.
“We are in the process of figuring out what school can look like tomorrow, specifically for Tillman Elementary School. We want to make sure that we do what is best for kids, for families,” said Steph Deidrick, Chief Communications Director for Kirkwood Schools.
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