The trooper pulled the vehicle over and the driver initially was falsely identified as Timothy Johnson. Several field sobriety tests were conducted in and outside of his patrol vehicle on the subject described as weighing nearly 300 pounds and standing 6-feet, 6-inches tall. “Trooper Sullivan stated the final test was a preliminary breath test, which was done,” stated the report. “The reading on the instrument was .12 percent and rising.” The trooper told the subject he was under arrest for driving while intoxicated as the subject told him that “he wasn't drunk” and became combative. An altercation ensued between the two. “Trooper Sullivan stated ... he was scared the subject was going to kill him and if he was struck one more time he might get knocked out and killed.” Mr. Sullivan fired three shots that caused the motorist, who was outside the vehicle at that point, to fall to the ground. Mr. Sullivan retrieved his first-aid kit to render aid to the man and repositioned his patrol vehicle to protect the subject and himself until additional help arrived, the report said.
Victim's Name: Thomas Schroeder
Agency Responsible: Missouri State Highway Patrol
Gender: Male
Age: 50
Race: White
Date of Death: January 28, 2013
County: Holt
Cause of Death: Gunshot
Official Disposition: Justified
Criminal Charges: No known charges
Mental Illness: Drug or alcohol use
Armed: Unarmed/Did Not Have an Actual Weapon
Weapon: unarmed
Geography: Rural