INDEPENDENCE, MO. — A police officer responding to a domestic disturbance was shot to death, moments before the suspected gunman died in a blaze authorities believe he set.
The officer, 54-year-old Terry Foster, had said he planned to retire in a few months, said police chief Gary George, who had been on the force with Foster for 30 years and shared his birthday.
Authorities had not released the 34-year-old gunman's name by late Sunday night.
Police said Foster and other officers were called to the apartment at 9:45 p.m. Saturday at the request of the man's elderly parents, who said he was being violent. George said Foster had known the man from earlier calls, and apparently felt he could talk him out of the apartment. The man had never been violent, George said.
Police said Foster and two other officers had talked to the gunman for about an hour through a locked door in the apartment. When they forced the door open, the gunman opened fire, hitting Foster.
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