Man shot by O'Fallon police

Maurice Johnson, a 30-year-old Wentzville man, was shot and killed by O’Fallon police on Monday morning after entering the apartment of his estranged girlfriend and child.

The O’Fallon Police Department dispatch received a phone call at 8:54 a.m. on June 1 from an individual at the Rock Creek Elementary School requesting a well-being check on a female resident in the apartment complex on Mill Creek Parkway in O’Fallon. The individual was concerned after learning the female resident, whose child attended Rock Creek, had received threatening phone calls from the suspect over the weekend.

Six officers were dispatched to Mill Creek Parkway and found the residence was locked and there was no response inside. The neighbor saw police officers and offered to call the female resident, who then returned home. She gave the keys to the police officers and requested they search the residence because the suspect had tried to find her the previous weekend. No one was found inside, but the female resident told police officers that Johnson would return if the police left and he knew she was home.

Two police officers remained in the back bedrooms of the apartment and the remaining four officers left to patrol close by in the area.

“We think he (Johnson) was somewhere close by because as soon as the other police officers left, he showed up almost immediately,” said Interim Police Chief William Seibert during a press conference held Monday afternoon.

Police said Johnson entered through the back door of the apartment and came into the hallway.

“The officers confronted the suspect and advised him that he was under arrest,” Seibert said. “The suspect went for his waistband and produced a hand gun.”

A short gun battle ensued and Johnson was struck and killed, police said.

The police officers, who were not injured, were place on administrative leave which is according to department policy.

The female resident and her child were not injured.