Holly MatkinLincoln County, MO – St. Louis County Police Department (SLCPD) Officer Robert Woods was fatally shot in an apparent murder-suicide on Christmas Eve morning, according to investigators.
The incident occurred at a residence on Emerald Court in an unincorporated area of Lincoln County shortly before 7 a.m. on Dec. 24, KSDK reported.
The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) received a report of “shots fired” at the residence and responded to find the bodies of two deceased males, according to investigators.
One of the men was identified as 36-year-old Officer Woods, KSDK reported.
Officer Woods had been shot multiple times, according to police.
He was off-duty at the time of his death.
The other deceased male’s name was not immediately released, KMOV reported.
The LCSO said the second man “appears to have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.”
Officer Woods and the gunman knew one another, but the sheriff’s office did not provide any details about how they knew one another, KMOV reported.
No other information regarding the apparent murder-suicide was immediately released.
St. Louis County Police Chief Kenneth Gregory described the events leading to Officer Woods’ murder as “tragic” in a department memo sent out on Saturday afternoon, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
“It is important to remember his service and dedication to the people of St. Louis County,” Chief Gregory noted, according to KSDK.
Officer Woods served the SLCPD for five years and was assigned to the North County Precinct at the time of his murder, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.
“We ask that the community pray for Officer Woods’ family and his department family as we are all very saddened and devastated by this tragic loss,” St. Louis County Police Department (SLCPD) Sergeant Tracy Panus told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Today we mourn the tragic loss of Police Officer Robert Woods. Officer Woods served the citizens of our community for 5 years. Please pray for his family as well as his police family, as we remember this dedicated officer who will be greatly missed. pic.twitter.com/Ct2fnNxzrq
— St. Louis County PD (@stlcountypd) December 25, 2022
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of St. Louis County Police Department Officer Robert Woods, both blood and blue. Thank you for your service.
Rest easy, hero. We’ll hold the line from here.
