Springfield Police say a 31-year-old man shot and killed by a police officer on Tuesday evening was not armed.
According to a news release, officers were dispatched to the 1900 block of West Division Street at 10:07 p.m. to a “check person” 911 call. Upon arrival on scene one of the suspects fled on foot. Officer Andrew Bath pursued the suspect on foot, eventually catching up with him in the 1400 block of N. Marion Ave.
“At some point during the ensuing encounter, the officer shot the suspect one time in the chest and he died at the scene shortly afterward,” a statement read.
The suspect has been identified as Michael S. Ireland.
The department says no weapon was discovered by investigators this morning during the processing of the crime scene and it is believed Ireland was not armed at the time of the shooting.
The release notes that Ireland was a persistent offender and convicted felon who, at the time of the shooting, was wanted on municipal warrants and was on probation and parole through District 10 (Springfield) of the Missouri Department of Corrections.
Bath has been placed on paid administrative leave, per standard procedure after an officer-involved shooting. The 27-year-old officer joined the Springfield Police Department in January 2012.
The department says its Criminal Investigations Section is conducting a criminal investigation into the incident and the results will be forwarded to the Greene County Prosecutors Office for review. In addition, the SPD Internal Affairs Unit will conduct an internal investigation of the officer’s actions. The investigations are ongoing and interviews of officers and witnesses will occur as part of those investigations.
No additional details were provided.