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Tamarris L Bohannon: St Louis police officer shot in the head by gunman dies in 'terrible, senseless tragedy'

Bohannon, 29, served the department for nearly 4 years before meeting a tragic end. He was 'affectionately known' by his District Two squad as 'Bo'. He is survived by a wife, Alexis, and three children 

ST LOUIS, MISSOURI: A police officer with the St Louis Police Department who was shot in the head while responding to a shooting call in the Tower Grove South neighborhood at around 6 pm on Saturday, August 29, died at SSM Health St Louis University Hospital, police confirmed on Sunday. 

Officer Tamarris L Bohannon, 29, served the department for nearly four years before meeting a tragic end. He was "affectionately known" by his District Two squad as "Bo." He is survived by a wife, Alexis, and three children.   

"It is with the heaviest of hearts that we report that our critically injured officer has died. We cannot express how much we appreciate the hospital staff who continuously treated both officers for their injuries. Thank you all for your continued thoughts & prayers!" the police department tweeted. In another tweet, the department tweeted a photograph of "a letter from the family of Officer Tamarris L. Bohannon."

Bohannon, along with another officer was shot after the shooting suspect barricaded himself inside a home in the 3700 block of Hartford Street and fired at police. The shooting took place when the officers were searching for a reported shooting victim. The second officer was shot in the leg. He has been treated and released from the hospital, St Louis Police Department spokeswoman Officer Michelle Woodling said. After almost 12 hours of negotiations with the 43-year-old gunman, police arrested the suspect on Sunday morning. 

Homeowners Mimi and Steve Haag said they were trying to call 911 after encountering another man who had been shot when the gunman just walked into their home. “I saw then he had a gun,” Steve Haag told the St Louis Post-Dispatch. “He was very calm standing there with it in his hand and he just says to Mimi: ‘Ma’am you need to get off the phone.’” They were able to escape through the back door unharmed. 

Tributes poured in for the fallen cop. Mayor Lyda Krewson said in a statement Sunday night that she was “heartbroken” at Bohannon’s death. “I’ve had the privilege of spending some time with his family under these extraordinarily challenging circumstances. They’re wonderful people and immensely proud of the way he selflessly served and protected our community with distinction and honor for more than three years. This is a horrific reminder of the dangers our brave men and women willingly face everyday to keep us safe... This is a terrible, senseless tragedy.”

She also tweeted her condolences following the incident. “Please keep our injured officers and all the men and women of @SLMPD in your thoughts and prayers as this situation continues to develop. Their friends, family and loved ones, too," Krewson said.

St Louis Metropolitan Police Department Chief John Hayden said that the officers were “trying to do their job, that’s all they’re trying to do and they’re suffering under gunfire." He added that the incidents are part of “a surge in violence” this summer as residents were asked to pray for the officers. “We’re trying to cope through a very trying summer, and it’s very difficult. It’s very difficult,” he said. Eight cops have been shot in the line of duty since June 1, Hayden added.