Man suspected of shooting two Missouri law enforcement officers surrenders after 6 hour standoff

(Image: screenshot)

A suspect is in custody following a standoff with a man accused of shooting at police in Carter County, Missouri.

Cpl. Dallas Thompson with Missouri State Highway Patrol said just after 5 p.m. that the standoff was over.

The suspect is named as James D. Cummings, 31, of Van Buren, Missouri.

Highway Patrol SWAT spoke to him through a loud speaker and he eventually left the residence with his hands up and surrendered without incident.

“You don’t know what you’re approaching,” said Cpl.Thompson. “You don’t know who’s in the house. You don’t know what their intents to harm you are. So when they open the door and open fire, if you are able to walk away from that with even some serious injuries you can heal from, we’re very thankful.”

At approximately 9:51 a.m. the officers were attempting to serving an eviction notice near Van Buren.

MSHP said the male suspect began firing from inside the residence.

A Carter County Sheriff’s deputy and a MSHP trooper were hit.

According to Parrott, the deputy was shot three times. He was hit in the leg, groin, and chest.

The trooper was shot in the shoulder and vest. He was able to get away on his own.

The injures the deputy and trooper are considered non-life threatening, according to Parrott.

Both were reportedly wearing bullet-resistant vests and transported to area hospitals.

Another trooper was on scene right when the two officers were shot and he was able to drag the injured deputy from the porch to safety.