Joplin police officers involved in fatal shooting of David Ingle identified

(From the Joplin Police Depaertment)

The two officers involved in the shooting of David T. Ingle on August 13, 2019 are identified as Officer Grant Meador and Officer Laken Rawlins.

Officer Meador is a five-year veteran of the Joplin Police Department. Officer Meador is the police officer who fired his service pistol during the incident. 

Officer Laken Rawlins is a two-year veteran of the Joplin Police Department. 

The Missouri State Highway Patrol investigation into the shooting continues.

Previous news release

The suspect has been identified as David T. Ingle, age 31 of Joplin, MO. 

Ingle was pronounced deceased at Mercy Hospital. Ingle was reported as a suspicious person yelling, screaming, and possibly on drugs by one caller. 

The Joplin Police Department received a second call about Ingle’s behavior as officers were arriving. The first officer arrived and observed Ingle running down the roadway then fall to the ground yelling and screaming. 

Once the second officer arrived, they attempted to detain Ingle due to his erratic behavior. Ingle at this time resisted officers. 

Each officer fired their tasers at Ingle in an attempt to detain him safely. 

Ingle was able to resist through multiple deployments of the taser and engaged an officer. During the taser deployments one officer was struck in the hand and she was unable to assist the other officer in detaining Ingle. 

The other officer at this time attempted to create distance with Ingle as Ingle engaged him. The officer fired his duty weapon striking Ingle, as Ingle was charging the officer. No weapons were located on scene. 

Lifesaving efforts were completed by officers on scene until medical personnel arrived and transported Ingle to Mercy Hospital where he was pronounced deceased. 

One officer was transported to a local hospital for the injuries she sustained to her hand. She has since been released. 

Both officers are on paid administrative leave in accordance with department policy pending an investigation being conducted by the Missouri State Highway Patrol and JPD Internal Affairs. Both officers were wearing body worn cameras.

Initial news release

On August 13, 2019 at approximately 2120 hours Joplin Police Officers were dispatched to 901 W. Kensington Rd in reference to a suspicious person. 

The subject they encountered was combative with officers. Taser’s were deployed and were ineffective. 

The suspect continued to be combative with officers. During the confrontation a Joplin Police Officer fired their duty weapon striking the suspect. Fire and EMS were immediately dispatched to the scene. The suspect was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol has been requested to investigate the officer involved shooting. Identification of the suspect will be released when proper notifications have been made. More information will be released as it becomes available. 

As per department policy the officers involved will be placed on administrative leave pending the investigation.