WANTED MAN DEAD

Shawn Clark, 34, is dead after, “an apparent self-inflicted gun shot,” announced West Plains Police Wednesday morning. Clark has been at large and considered armed and dangerous since Monday night when law enforcement responded to a Willow Springs home for reports of an armed man firing shots and endangering a woman and child. A joint response from Howell County’s SWAT and Willow Springs Police Department saw the woman and child rescued unarmed within an hour.
 

Clark escaped the perimeter, as previously reported by Howell County News. Law enforcement announced that Clark was considered armed and dangerous. He had a history of multiple violent crimes and had multiple warrants for his arrest.
 

On Tuesday night shortly before 7:00 p.m., West Plains Police received an anonymous tip regarding Clark’s whereabouts. Officers arrived at the as-yet undisclosed location and learned Clark was barricaded inside the house with an adult male and female. These two people were safely rescued from the house.
 

Police attempted to negotiate with Clark, but he fired multiple rounds with a handgun at officers. While these negotiations continued, members of the SWAT and WPPD Strategic response team entered the house.
 

Clark was found dead inside. The deceased’s next of kin was notified, and West Plains Police released this narrative shortly after 8:00 a.m.
 

Questions remain. See the print edition for more details.