According to KMOV4
The man at the Maryland Heights Community Center who police said exchanged gunfire with a police officer after killing a woman has been charged. A 30-year-old employee, Michael Honkomp, was reportedly upset over being sent home and allegedly pulled a gun on the on-duty supervisor
An officer was in the parking lot, and engaged the suspect in a shootout.There were around 150 people inside, and police believe the officer may have saved many lives.
Authorities said Honkomp did not immediately go down, and he and the officer continued to exchange gunfire until Honkomp was incapacitated.
“I believe the action of our police officer was quite heroic. He immediately went inside the community center and confronted the gunman,” Carson said.
The shooting happened just before 8:15 p.m. Monday. There were around 150 people inside the community center at the time of the shooting. A witness told News 4 that she was at the facility when she heard gunshots. She said people ran to hide in a closet in the fitness center.
Lucas was a city employee who was the on-duty supervisor at the community center at the time of the shooting. The mayor of Maryland Heights, Mike Moeller, said the city would plan a public event to honor the life of Lucas calling her a valued and beloved employee at the community center.
Maryland Heights Councilwoman Susan Taylor was devastated to hear that Lucas had been killed.
“When I heard last night everyone would be grieving for I thought no. I thought no that special person is gone,” Taylor said.