Man charged with murder in police officer's shooting

ST. LOUIS -- Prosecutors could seek the death penalty against a man charged with shooting a suburban St. Louis police sergeant to death.

Kevin Johnson, 19, of Kirkwood, was charged Saturday with first-degree murder in Tuesday's death of Kirkwood Sgt. William McEntee. McEntee was shot while he sat in his patrol car after responding to a complaint about fireworks.

Johnson, who surrendered to authorities Friday, is also charged with five other felony counts: one count each of first-degree robbery and first-degree assault and three counts of armed criminal action.

Police are also investigating whether anyone helped Johnson elude capture for three days, McCulloch said.

McEntee's funeral at St. Simon the Apostle Catholic Church in south St. Louis County drew more than 1,000 mourners, more than half of them police officers from departments across Missouri and Illinois.

McEntee's wife, Mary, and three children -- Katie, 13, Brendan, 10, and Conor, 7 -- heard McEntee eulogized as man with a contagious laugh, a booming voice and a tender heart.

Kirkwood Police Chief Jack Plummer, who promoted McEntee to sergeant in 2000, asked McEntee's relatives to stand and look at the throngs of supporters.

"You can never replace Bill, none of us can," Plummer said. "But I hope you remember this. You've gained thousands of aunts and uncles and friends."

Also on Saturday, about 1,000 people showed up for a memorial at the intersection where McEntee was shot.

Plummer also attended the memorial.

"We're going to have to move forward and do whatever it takes to make a better neighborhood," Plummer said. "I want to pledge my support to seeing whatever we can do to make the situation down here better. We have to do some things differently if it's going to be successful."

Mourners at the memorial also prayed for Johnson.

"I'm here because I'm sad, I'm devastated," said former Kirkwood High School Principal Franklin S. McCallie. "Bill McEntee is gone, and Kevin Johnson, I don't know what's left of his life."