O'FALLON, Mo. — The O'Fallon Missouri Police Department identified 34-year-old Douglas Alan Phipps as the suspect who fired shots at City Hall's clock tower around 4:15 p.m. Sunday.
Jerry Brown said what's known as a quiet neighborhood, quickly changed when he heard gunfire in the Royal Oaks subdivision.
"Shortly after I saw a red car slowly coming up the street, followed by three to four O'Fallon police officers," Brown said.
Brown said he heard eight to 15 gunshots ring out.
Police said they attempted to stop Phipps on North Main Street and Highway P, but he led police on a chase to the Royal Oaks subdivision.
Paige Morales said she was putting up Christmas lights with her children and feared for their safety.
"He just drove by and looked at me with a one-hand wave. He didn't seem bothered and wasn't rushing. Maybe he was defeated at that point," Morales said.
Morales said she did not recognize the suspect. Police said the police chase ended on Spring Court.
"My kids were out [there], I said to 'Go inside and lock the doors' because it's a dead-end street. If anything happens, he's going to possibly flee on foot," Morales said.
Police said when Phipps got out of his car, he was carrying a shotgun and pointed it at officers. Police said an exchange of gunfire happened. Phipps was pronounced dead on the scene shortly after.
Morales and Brown call the situation unnerving.
"How do we prevent things like that from happening in the future?" Morales asked.
"I'm sure the officers did not want to fire … I'm sure they were left with no alternative," Brown said.
O'Fallon police said no officers were injured during the shooting as the investigation is ongoing. A spokesperson with the department said the officers who were involved have served for several years.
"The officers involved in the incident were a 47-year-old officer with 24 years of experience and a 28-year-old officer with five years of experience," Sgt. Bryan Harr.
St. Charles County Critical Incident Response Team was activated and is working to gather all details and evidence, according to police.
Police have not said if these officers will face disciplinary action.
