Suspect Identified in Officer Involved Shooting
UPDATE: 36-year-old John Blanton of Webb City now faces first degree assault on law enforcement, armed criminal action, first degree tampering with a motor vehicle, felon in possession of a firearm, receiving stolen property and felony resisting arrest. He also had several warrants out for his arrest.
The suspect in the Friday afternoon officer involved shooting in Joplin has been identified as 36-year-old John Blanton of Webb City. See the full press release from Joplin Police below.
On Friday, November 2, 2018 at 1:17pm the Ozarks Drug Enforcement Team contacted Joplin Police Officers by police radio. Members of ODET said they observed a stolen vehicle at 1832 South Maiden Lane, Kum N Go. They described it as a spray painted white Dodge Pickup and that the plates showed it to be a stolen vehicle, reported stolen to the Joplin Police Department. They requested an officer respond to assist and an on-duty JPD Officer responded to the area.
The stolen vehicle left behind the store, drove west of Price Cutter and pulled southbound across 20th Street and into the neighborhoods to the south. The Joplin Police Officer, driving a fully marked police car, got behind the vehicle. A moment later, the officer stated the vehicle was pulling into the north parking lot of Springview Gardens Apartments, at 22nd and McCoy. The driver got out of the stolen truck and ran on foot southbound, down a corridor between apartments and into the courtyard of the complex. As the officer was chasing him, the suspect fell onto the ground and turned towards the officer. At the same time, the suspect then raised a handgun, pointing it at the officer. The officer fired at the suspect, striking him and stopping the threat.
Additional officers arrived on scene and immediately began providing the suspect medical attention until METS arrived. The suspect was then transported to Freeman Hospital and is being treated for what is described as non-life-threatening injuries. The Joplin Police Department requested the Missouri State Highway Patrol respond to the scene to investigate the shooting. The officer involved shooting is currently being investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. By policy, the Joplin Police Officer who fired his duty weapon has been placed on administrative leave pending the investigation.
The suspect in this case has been identified as John M. Blanton, 36, Webb City, Missouri.