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Update: Mass Shooting in Texas County Confirmed This Morning

Scott Harvey
/
KSMU

We've updated our story in a new post found here.

Update 2/27/15 1:21 p.m.

A community of roughly 40 people in south central Missouri is working to come to terms with a mass shooting that left nine people death and one injured.

The shooting occurred around 10:15 p.m. Thursday in the unincorporated community of Tyrone. Missouri State Highway Patrol Sergeant Jeffrey Kinder said Friday morning that enforcement was working six scenes, including one in which a 36-year-old suspect was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Steve Shriver says three of the deceased are his cousins, and he and others were attempting to locate and feed the cattle on land that his relatives would typically be working.

“I’ve been on the phone all morning. I can’t get off the phone. We’ve trying to get people together to help feed these cows. Try to figure out – They’re my cousins and I know where most of their cattle are at but I don’t know where all of ‘em is at.”

A fourth cousin had come out of surgery okay, Shriver said, but declined to go into detail or provide names. Law enforcement has yet to release any names in the case. Another press conference was planned for around 2 p.m. in nearby Houston, Missouri.

Eight, including the alleged suspect, are said to have died of gunshot wounds. An elderly woman is said to have died of natural causes. The shooting victims included three women and four men, ranging in age from the early 40s to mid 60s.

Update 2/27/15 12:50 p.m.:

Nine people are confirmed dead in southern Missouri following a mass shooting late last night.  During a press conference this morning in Texas County, Missouri Highway Patrol sergeant, Jeffrey Kinder, said the Texas County Sheriff's Department responded to a disturbance involving a weapon at a residence in Tyrone around 10:15 last night. 

He said a juvenile caller told authorities she was in a residence in Tyrone and heard gunshots.  She fled to a neighbor's house and called 911.  Responding deputies found two deceased persons in the first residence.  Further investigation, Kinder said, revealed five additional bodies and one victim who was wounded in three additional residences.  An elderly female was found deceased in another residence, apparently of natural causes.

Kinder said the apparent suspect, a 36-year-old male from Tyrone, was found dead in a vehicle in Shannon County from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The significance of the crime scene was apparent when Kinder was asked how many victims there were.  He had to count them on his fingers.

"There--there are (silence while he counts).  Isn't that terrible?  You lose count," he said.

Names of victims are not being released pending notification of next of kin.

Anyone with information about the shootings is asked to call the Texas County Sheriff's Office at 417-967-4165 or the Missouri State Highway Patrol's Troop G Headquarters at 417-469-3121.

In a statement, Gov. Jay Nixon said, “This is a horrific tragedy, and our hearts go out to the victims of these senseless acts and their families. The Missouri State Highway Patrol has been on site and assisting local law enforcement since the initial call late last night and will continue to assist local law enforcement agencies."

Nixon added that the state's Department of Mental Health has also contacted the local community mental health center to ensure that crisis intervention services will be provided to students in the area.

"I ask all Missourians to join us in sending thoughts and prayers to the victims, their families and loved ones,” he said.

U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill has also released a statement.  She said, “the details coming out of Tyrone are deeply sad and shocking, and I’m in grief for the community there. Even as we learn more about what happened, nothing could ever make sense of such a tragedy. I know the people of Texas County—folks like my Dad—to be strong, and kind. I know they’ll pull together in the face of these tragic events, and I’ll be joining all Missourians in praying for the people of Tyrone tonight.”

Original story:

A mass shooting is being investigated in southern Missouri this morning.  Numerous media outlets are reporting eight people were killed in various locations in Texas and Shannon Counties.  They say the shooter has been found dead, as well, bringing the total number of deceased to nine.

According to officials, there are four confirmed crime scenes at Tyrone, a possible fifth location there and a sixth in Shannon County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol has established a mobile command post in Texas County.

Michele Skalicky has worked at KSMU since the station occupied the old white house at National and Grand. She enjoys working on both the announcing side and in news and has been the recipient of statewide and national awards for news reporting. She likes to tell stories that make a difference. Michele enjoys outdoor activities, including hiking, camping and leisurely kayaking.