Joplin Police release name of heroic officer who stopped assailant
Joplin Police are identifying the officer that fired shots upon the suspect as Captain William Davis.
Captain Davis has been placed on administrative leave per department policy.
Captain Davis was not injured in the incident.
Police say Davis fired the fatal shot on the suspect, 40-year-old Anthony Felix Tuesday afternoon after Felix had already shot and fatally wounded officer Cpl. Ben Cooper. Felix had also shot and badly wounded two other officers, who remain hospitalized. Details concerning their health will be released Thursday morning.
The Officer Memorial located in front of the Police Department will be moved inside to the Police Department lobby by tomorrow afternoon, due to impending winter weather. The lobby will be open from 8:00am to 5:00pm.
____________________________ORIGINAL STORY_________________________________
Joplin Police have identified the fallen officer after a fatal shooting took place Tuesday. Read the full press release below:
On March 8, 2022, at 1332 hours, Officers responded to the area of 4th and Range line in regard to a disturbance. Once on scene officers contacted a subject who they identified as being involved in the disturbance. As officers attempted to take the subject into custody, he shot two officers and fled the scene in a stolen patrol car. Officers attempted to stop the fleeing suspect, who fired shots from the stolen patrol vehicle at pursuing officers, striking a patrol vehicle. The suspect wrecked the patrol car shortly thereafter and fled on foot to the area of 9th and Connecticut.
Officers once again located the suspect, and he fired shots at officers, injuring one. Joplin Police Captain William Davis returned fire and struck the suspect. Captain Davis has been placed on administrative leave per department policy. Captain Davis was not injured in the incident.
Cpl. Benjamin Cooper, succumbed to his injuries yesterday afternoon.
Corporal Cooper was a veteran officer of the Joplin Police Department, starting his career in 2003 before transferring to a sheriff’s department in Colorado. Corporal Cooper returned to the Joplin Police Department in 2013 and was promoted to Corporal in 2016. Corporal Cooper leaves behind a wife and 2 daughters.