Suspect in Republic officer-involved shooting has died, police say

A man was shot and killed by a police officer Tuesday morning in Republic after police say that man crashed into several buildings and hit the officer with his car on Peachtree Lane.

A news release from the Republic Police Department said Destry Meikle, 48, was shot after officers responded to reports of a crash near South Peachtree Lane and East Elm Street. When they arrived, police found a single vehicle had collided with two different buildings before coming to rest in a garage.

An officer — unnamed in the release — approached the vehicle and began telling the driver to turn off the engine, before Meikle put the vehicle in gear in an attempt to leave the scene, according to the release.

The release then says the officer was knocked to the ground, and when getting up, believed the vehicle was going to strike him again.

The officer then fired his handgun, hitting Meikle, according to the release.

Meikle was taken to a local hospital and treated, but eventually succumbed to his injuries, according to the release. The officer was treated and released for his injuries, and has been placed on administrative leave, in accordance with department policy.

Republic Police Chief Mike Lawton said the Greene County Sheriff's Office would be investigating the incident.

Several Republic police officers and Greene County Sheriff's deputies responded to the scene in addition to firefighters and a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper.

Michael and Amanda Hilles live across the street from the crime scene. They said they saw the suspect drive through a couple of yards and then they heard gunshots.

Rachael Tate, another neighbor, said there might have been a small fire after the car crashed into the garage.

Tate said normally Peachtree Lane is a quiet street.

"Ordinarily this is a really safe street," Tate said. "There are a lot of neighbors who are home in the middle of the day, so we are always watching each other's houses."

Lawton said Tuesday afternoon there had been no arrests in the case, and he was not sure if the suspect who was shot was involved in any other incidents in town on Tuesday.

Lawton said the officer who was hit by the car was an "experienced officer."

The scene is one block off of Highway 60. Police surrounded several homes with crime scene tape.