Events beginning with a report of shots fired at Pointer’s Creek Conservation Area last Wednesday, Jan. 12, ended in tragedy with an apparent suicide.

First aid was rendered at the scene by Osage County deputies until Osage Ambulance District personnel arrived and continued life-saving efforts. The subject was transported by ambulance to meet with LifeFlight so he could be transported to the nearest emergency care facility but EMS was unable to stabilize him.

Missouri state law (RSMo 210.192) requires that any child (ages 0- 17) who dies from any cause be reported to the coroner/medical examiner, who is required to follow specific procedures concerning child fatalities. 

Coroner AJ Probst confirmed Tuesday that a local child-fatality review panel — including the Osage County coroner, sheriff, health department, prosecuting attorney, DFS, EMS, and the court system — will be convened to investigate the situation to determine what may have influenced the death. The panel will work to identify risk or circumstance by means of further investigation, providing services, education, and initiating prevention strategies.

Specific case details discussed by the CFRP panel are never discussed outside of the panel’s review, which is not open to the public.

Services were held on Tuesday. An obituary appears in this week’s issue of the UD.