Springfield Police Officer Involved In Fatal Shooting

A Springfield police officer shot and killed a man who allegedly refused to drop a weapon during a confrontation, police said.

The man, identified as Joshua A. Michael, 37, from Springfield, died at a hospital after being shot on Friday.

Police said in a news release that emergency dispatchers received a call Friday night of a man armed with a rifle who was causing a disturbance in the parking lot of a  Bass Pro Shops Catalog store around 9 p.m., near Campbell Avenue and Cherokee Street. The caller said the man appeared to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

When an officer arrived, Michael, who was in his truck, refused to comply with demands to drop his shotgun, prompting the officer to fire, striking him, police said.

The officer involved in the shooting has been placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation.

Detectives are asking anyone with information on the shooting to contact Springfield Police at (417) 864-1810 or call Crime Stoppers at (417) 869-TIPS (8477).