Suspect killed in stakeout in suburb

BALLWIN, Mo. -- A suspect breaking in to a home near this St. Louis suburb while the occupants were attending a wake was shot and killed by investigators waiting inside during a stakeout, authorities said.

St. Louis County investigators were in the house Friday night in hopes of catching the so-called "Obituary Burglar" suspected in a series of break-ins at homes left unattended by people away for funerals or wakes.

About 8 p.m. Friday, authorities said, someone kicked in the front door of a home in which officers were allowed to hide. When confronted inside, the suspect resisted arrest, charged the officers and was shot and killed, St. Louis County Police Chief Ron Batelle said.

"He approached the officers aggressively in a crouched position, raised his hand and the officer, in fearing for his own life, felt the subject was armed and fatally shot him," Batelle said.

Batelle said the suspect, whose name and age were not immediately released, was carrying a flashlight but was unarmed.

The officer who shot the suspect has been placed on leave, pending further investigation.

Police Lt. Jon Belmar said there had been 14 burglaries in unincorporated St. Louis County areas, as well as similar break-ins in seven St. Louis County municipalities. The suspect, police believe, apparently checks newspaper obituary notices to find houses that would be briefly left by people attending funerals or wakes.