Moberly Man Dead After Encounter With Jeff City Police

On Monday at approximately 1:45 p.m., officers from the Jefferson City Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a Chevrolet Suburban for having expired registration in the 3700 block of West Truman Boulevard in Jeff City.

Preliminary investigation revealed that after stopping the vehicle, the two officers approached the passenger side of the Chevrolet. At this time, the driver produced a rifle. The officers issued verbal commands instructing the suspect to drop the rifle, which the suspect ignored.

The officers, fearing for their safety, fired their weapons striking the suspect. The suspect has been identified as Clay Willingham, 32, of Moberly; he was pronounced dead at the scene. The officers were not injured.

At the request of the Jefferson City Police Department, the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control is handling the investigation.