Police Officer John L. Summers

John L. Summers

Police Officer John Summers was shot and killed while chasing a suspect who had been shooting at his wife and setting her house on fire.

Officer Summers and other officers had responded to the home at 5777 Westminster Place. Officer Summers chased the suspect across the street at which time several shots were fired. The suspect was taken into custody by other officers. After being unable to locate Officer Summers, it was realized that he never cleared back to duty and a search was begun for him. He was found in the backyard of a home with a bullet wound in which he bled to death from.

The suspect was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life. He received an additional 40 years for arson.

Officer Summers was the first black police officer to be killed in the line of duty with his agency. He had been employed with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department for eight years and is survived by his wife and three sons.