Search continues for gunman in police slaying

08:45 AM CDT on Friday, July 8, 2005

By BETSY TAYLOR, Associated Press Writer

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KIRKWOOD, Mo. (AP) -- Family members on Thursday pleaded for the 19-year-old man suspected of killing a suburban St. Louis police sergeant to turn himself in.

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Kevin Johnson has a tattoo of the word "rockhead" on his right arm and another tattoo on his neck.

"The family is begging him to give himself up, so we don't have to go to two funerals this week," said an uncle of Kevin Johnson, who declined to give his name, standing in a group of Johnson's friends and relatives outside a family home.

They believed Johnson shot and killed Kirkwood Sgt. William McEntee on Tuesday because he was distraught over the unexpected death of his younger brother, Joseph, age 12, of natural causes a few hours before McEntee was killed. They speculated that Johnson believed his brother's death could have been prevented if police and emergency workers responded more quickly.

While Joseph, who relatives called Bam Bam, had a heart condition as a child, family members said he had not been sick, and they didn't know what caused his death.

"We're sorry that the police officer is dead," the uncle said. "As far as I'm concerned, it's just two senseless deaths."

St. Louis County police said Thursday they did not expect to release additional details in the investigation unless the suspect was captured.

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Police did not know of any link between Johnson and McEntee, 43, who had been a Kirkwood officer since 1986.

And authorities have not identified any connection so far between the killing and the death of Johnson's younger brother, who collapsed in the same neighborhood about two hours earlier.

Officers had responded to help paramedics on the call for the youth, but no friction with the family was reported. Authorities said they had no indication McEntee responded to the earlier call.

About 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, McEntee responded to a complaint about fireworks, and was speaking to a 13-year-old boy. That's when an unrelated attacker, identified by police as Johnson, fired into McEntee's stopped patrol car. The police car moved forward for about a block, striking another vehicle and then hitting a tree.

Police said the gunman walked up to the car and shot the sergeant again, then took McEntee's pistol. The 13-year-old boy who was talking to McEntee when the shooting began was wounded in the leg.

Johnson has not been charged in the killing. Authorities said he is armed and poses a threat to the public.

McEntee is survived by his wife, Mary, and three children ages 7, 10 and 13.

Visitation for Sgt. William L. McEntee:

Friday, July 8

2 p.m. - 9 p.m. Kutis Funeral Home in Affton at 10151 Gravois Rd. (near the Laclede Station intersection)

Funeral:

Saturday, July 9

10:15 a.m. prayer service at Kutis Funeral Home at 10151 Gravois Rd.

11:00 a.m. service at St. Simon the Apostle Catholic Church at 11011 Mueller Rd.

Burial is Immediately following the funeral mass at Resurection Cemetery 6901 McKenzie (at Watson)

The BackStoppers

(314) 692-0200

backstoppers@backstoppers.org

www.backstoppers.com/

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Sgt. William McEntee

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Flowers placed outside the Kirkwood Police Deparment in memory of Sgt. William McEntee.