Kirkwood mayor shot in February rampage dies

KIRKWOOD, Mo. -- The former mayor of the St. Louis suburb of Kirkwood who was shot and badly injured during a rampage at city hall in February has died.

Mike Swoboda died Saturday morning of complications connected to the shooting. He would have turned 70 this month.

Disgruntled resident Charles "Cookie" Thornton killed a police officer outside of city hall Feb. 7, then burst into a city council meeting and killed another officer, two council members and the public works director, and then shot the mayor.

Swoboda was shot twice in the head. He was hospitalized for weeks but appeared to be recovering before suffering setbacks in recent months.

In April, residents packed the council chambers to honor the mayor at his final meeting.

He is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter.