SHELBY COUNTY, Mo. —Law enforcement authorities investigating an officer-involved shooting that injured a suspect and a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper have filed charges in the case.
Erik Prange, 51, of Moberly, Missouri, is now charged with four counts of armed criminal action and four counts of first-degree assault on a law enforcement officer causing serious physical injury, following the investigation by the MSHP's Division of Drug and Crime Control. He remains hospitalized. The State Trooper was treated and released from the hospital.
Just before 8p.m. Wednesday, Northeast Missouri Emergency Communications requested assistance locating a suspect alleged to have previously fled in a vehicle from Adams County, Illinois Sheriff's Deputies and Quincy Police, according to a statement from the MSHP Troop B.
The suspect vehicle was believe to have entered Missouri westbound on U.S. 36. At 8:16p.m. MSHP troopers located the vehicle west of Hannibal and attempted a stop resulting in a pursuit.
Troopers successfully deployed spike strips and the vehicle exited U.S. 36 at Missouri 151 in Clarence and stopped. The driver, later identified as Prange, exited the vehicle armed with a rifle and began firing at troopers. Troopers returned fire striking the suspect. Prange sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to an area hospital.
During the exchange of gunfire, a MSHP trooper was wounded. The trooper was transported to an area hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.