Clay Reporter

On May 5, Sheriff Akin presented Special Commendations to a group of deputies who stopped an active shooter on I-35 last fall. 

Multiple deputies came to assist Liberty Police early October 15, 2021, with a man who was walking on northbound Interstate 35 and shooting rounds from a handgun at passing vehicles. 

The man refused to stop for Liberty Police, so deputies and officers from other assisting agencies began to set up a perimeter. As they were doing so, a Liberty officer radioed that the man had run across I-35 toward North Church Road. Deputies and officers could no longer see him. At the same time, a severe storm had started, complicating their search with torrential rain. 

Deputies joined other agencies searching for the shooter. The deputies soon found him lying in the grass between I-35 and North Church Road. He was on his stomach and refused to show deputies his hands, despite their repeated commands. This went on for almost an hour in the rain. Finally, the suspect stood up, still not showing his hands. Deputy Nelson yelled at the suspect that he would shoot him with a beanbag round if he did not show his hands. The suspect still refused, and Deputy Nelson struck him with the beanbag. 

This caused the suspect to drop to the ground, and the deputies moved in to arrest him. But he continued to resist them. During the struggle, deputies pulled a gun from the suspect’s waistband. Deputy Nelson was able to drive-stun the suspect with a Taser, which finally allowed the deputies to get him into custody. 

Thankfully, none of the shooter's rounds had struck anyone.

Original source can be found here.