stellarpod
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Here we go again folks.
According to FOX NEWS there are five deaths reported at this time.
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KIRKWOOD, Mo. - A gunman opened fire at a meeting of the Kirkwood City Council in suburban St. Louis Thursday night, hitting the mayor, two council members and at least two other people, according to a newspaper. There was no immediate word on whether anyone was killed.
Police shot the gunman, who had hit Kirkwood Mayor Mike Swoboda, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, which had a reporter attending the meeting.
The reporter said a police officer, council members Michael H.T. Lynch and Connie Karr, and Public Works Director Kenneth Yost also were shot.
The victims were taken to St. John's Mercy Hospital, but Kirkwood police told The Associated Press that no one was available to provide any information. St. Louis County police did not return several calls.
The Post-Dispatch reporter said the 7 p.m. meeting had just started when the shooter, who she identified as Charles Lee "Cookie" Thornton, rushed into the council chambers yelling and began opening fire with at least one weapon. He started yelling "shoot the mayor" while walking around and firing, hitting a police officer first, the reporter said.
The reporter also said the shooter fired at the city attorney, who tried to fight off the attacker by throwing chairs. The shooter then moved behind the curved desk where the council sits and fired more shots at council members.
About 30 people were in the council chambers at the time of the shooting, the reporter said.
Dozens of emergency vehicles were on the scene and an area of several blocks was cordoned off along a busy north-south corridor around city hall.
Kirkwood is about 20 miles southwest of downtown St. Louis, just inside the I-270 loop. City Hall is located in a quiet area filled with condominiums, eateries and shops, and is not far from a dance studio and train station.
Mary Linehares, a teacher who lives about four blocks from City Hall, described the town as quiet and eclectic.
"It's like a small town in St. Louis," said Mary, who walked down to the scene with her husband, Jim. "You can call it Mayberry."
According to FOX NEWS there are five deaths reported at this time.
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