Man Fatally Shot By Officers Had Stolen Truck, Gun

The man fatally shot by police after a chase in St. Charles County was driving a stolen pickup truck and carrying a stolen gun, police said Thursday.

Police identified the man killed as 36-year-old Sonny J. Vincent. Court records show he was on parole after convictions for drug crimes and unlawful possession of a firearm.
Officers from a multi-jurisdictional crime reduction task force tried to pull over the truck Tuesday night on Interstate 70. They said the license plate didn't match the vehicle.

At Wentzville, spike strips were used to stop the truck. As the man tried to run away he allegedly pointed a gun at police. Two task force officers fired the shots that killed him, police said.

The truck was reported stolen in St. Louis County, and the gun found near Vincent was stolen from Marion, Illinois, police said in a news release on Thursday.

A truck passenger, 37-year-old Amber N. Smith, was charged with forgery, unlawful use of a weapon, possession of a controlled substance, resisting arrest and tampering with a motor vehicle. She is jailed on $10,000 cash-only bond.

The officers who shot Vincent were unhurt.

According to a facebook post from Wentzville Police:

“While assigned to the St. Charles County Regional Crime Reduction Task Force officers attempted to stop a vehicle in the area of Hwy 70 and Hwy 79 which failed to yield. Wentzville officers then utilized spike strips successfully in the area of Hwy 70 and Hwy Z in an attempt to stop the vehicle.

The suspect vehicle continued Westbound on Hwy 70 until it exited the Hwy in the area of Hwy 70 and Langtree Drive through the grass median and stopped.

Two suspects fled the vehicle in a northwest direction. As they fled on foot the driver pointed a firearm in the direction of officers as he crossed West Pearce Boulevard (western edge of Wentzville). Two St. Charles County Regional Crime Reduction Task Force officers fired shots striking the driver suspect. Both suspects were taken into custody on scene a short distance from their vehicle. Officers and medics rendered aid immediately to the driver suspect and medics were able to stabilize the suspect enough to transport him to an area hospital. Unfortunately, he was later pronounced deceased at the hospital. The passenger suspect who fled was not injured and is in custody.

The suspect's firearm was recovered at the scene. One St. Charles City and one St. Peters police officer was involved in the shooting and neither were injured. In an effort to ensure a professional, fair and transparent investigation of this incident the St. Charles County Regional Critical Incident Response Team was notified and responded on scene to investigate.

Since the incident, the driver suspect was identified as Sonny J Vincent, a white male, 36 years old, with a last known address in rural Middletown.

In reference to the female passenger that was taken into custody she was identified as Amber N. Smith, a white female, age 37. On Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023 the St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney's Office filed the following charges against Smith;

*Unlawful Use of a Weapon
*Possession of a Controlled Substance
*Forgery
*Resisting/Interfering With Arrest For A Felony
*Tampering With Motor Vehicle - 2nd Degree

Smith is currently being held at the St. Charles County Department of Corrections with a $10,000 cash-only bond.

The 2011 Black Chevrolet Silverado that Vincent was driving was later determined to be reported stolen from the St. Louis County Police Department. The firearm that was seized near Vincent at the scene was later determined to be reported stolen from Marion Illinois.

The two officers assigned to the St. Charles County Crime Reduction Task Force that fired their duty weapons are a St. Charles City police officer who is a W/M 32 years old with 8 years of law enforcement experience and a St. Peters police officer who is a W/M 37 years old with 9 years of law enforcement experience.

All officer’s body camera footage and or in-car camera footage from the officers involved in the incident was given to the St. Charles County Regional Critical Incident Response Team for their investigation. Both officers involved have been placed on administrative leave per their own department's policy and are cooperating with investigators.

The St. Charles County Regional Critical Incident Response Team is actively investigating this incident to gather all the facts to include all evidence, video, statements and interviews. As the investigation develops future details will be released as they become available.”

Vincent was arrested in Hannibal in August of 2017 and charged with felon in possession of a firearm. He was 31 at the time. Vincent was wanted on a Marion County warrant for possession of amphetamine.