Perry County Sheriff releases details on I-55 incident
FOX23 News at 9 p.m.
PERRYVILLE, Mo., (KBSI) — Perry County Sheriff Jason Klaus released details Sunday regarding an incident involving a homicide suspect on Interstate 55.
According to the Perry County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were notified at about 1:23 a.m. Sunday of a vehicle traveling southbound on I-55 that was wanted in connection with a homicide investigation in Belleville, Illinois.
Deputies located the vehicle, described as a silver Chevrolet Impala, near the 138.6-mile marker and attempted to conduct a traffic stop. During the attempt, deputies reported hearing a single gunshot from inside the vehicle.
After issuing verbal commands, deputies and officers from the Perryville Police Department approached the vehicle and found the driver, identified as Christopher Boyd, deceased. Authorities said no other occupants were inside the vehicle.
The sheriff’s office thanked the Perryville Police Department, Ste. Genevieve County Sheriff’s Office, Cape Girardeau County Sheriff’s Office, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Mercy Perry EMS and the Perry County Coroner’s Office for their assistance during the response and investigation.
In a separate statement released by the Belleville Police Department, officials said officers responded at about 11:19 p.m. Saturday to reports of multiple shots fired in the 1700 block of Jamestown Road in Belleville.
Police said three victims were located at the scene. One woman was found deceased in the roadway, while two other women were found in a nearby vehicle. One of those victims suffered a gunshot wound.
Belleville police said a known acquaintance of the victims was identified as the suspect, along with a suspect vehicle. A regional law enforcement alert was issued.
Authorities said the suspect vehicle was later located by the Perry County Sheriff’s Office traveling southbound on I-55 early Sunday. Before law enforcement made contact, police said the suspect died from what is believed to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The Belleville Police Department said the investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Belleville Police Department Investigations Division at 618-234-1212.
