Officers justified in June fatal shooting, prosecutor says

Cole County Prosecutor Locke Thompson said Tuesday he had reviewed information gathered in an investigation by the Missouri Highway Patrol and found two Jefferson City Police Department officers involved in a fatal shooting of a man in June were justified in their actions.

The June 7 shooting occurred between Capital

Mall and the nearby Walgreens store on West Truman Boulevard. The patrol reported the JCPD officers were conducting a traffic stop on a vehicle for having an expired registration in the 3700 block of the street, according to information from the patrol.

Clay Willingham, 32, of Moberly, was the driver of the vehicle.

After stopping the vehicle, the two officers approached the passenger side, and Willingham produced a .22 caliber rifle.

The officers drew their weapons and told Willingham to drop the rifle. Willingham began turning back toward the officers with the gun raised in a shooting position. The officers, fearing for their safety and the safety of others in the area, opened fire, according to the report.

Willingham was pronounced dead at the scene. The officers were not injured.

A veterans service group based in Virginia said

it had been working with Willingham.

The group said he was suffering from several personal issues related to his time in the U.S. Marines. Officials there also said Willingham had every intention of hurting himself.

Thompson said this factor was taken into account in the investigation, and he said he believes it was a suicide by officer situation.

According to the JCPD policy manual, officers are put on paid administrative leave after an officer-involved shooting, pending the outcome of the investigation.

If an officer is found to have acted legally, justifiably and properly in the shooting, the officer will return to regular duty or special duty.