A special prosecutor has been appointed to determine if criminal charges should be filed against officers involved in the Aug. 8 shooting of a reportedly armed man after a chase that started in Jefferson City and ended in Callaway County.
Stephen Sokoloff was appointed by the Callaway County Circuit Court as special prosecutor in this matter. He is the general counsel for the Missouri Office of Prosecution Services in Jefferson City.
Sokoloff said he would meet with the investigators from the Missouri Highway Patrol next week and will go over their report to see if any action is warranted. He did not indicate how long this would take.
Jefferson City police officers attempted to stop Christopher Morris, 41, of Jefferson City, near West Schroeder Way and Broadway Street on Aug. 8, according to Jefferson City Police Department reports. Officers were trying to talk with Morris about a narcotics investigation.
Morris failed to stop, and the pursuit began and went into Callaway County. Once the tires on Morris' vehicle were disabled just north of New Bloomfield on U.S. 54, he exited the vehicle and reportedly fired at officers. He then fled into the wood line while continuing to exchange gunfire with officers, according to JCPD reports.
Law enforcement officers from several agencies created a perimeter and, before a search could start, Morris reappeared. Morris suffered a fatal gunshot wound.
A Jefferson City police officer and Callaway County Sheriff Clay Chism were involved in the shooting.
In most cases, the prosecutor in the county where the shooting occurred handles the case, but Callaway County Prosecutor Christopher Wilson said he would request a special prosecutor be appointed for this investigation due to his close working relationship with Chism and because he serves as the county counselor for Callaway County and is called upon to defend the sheriff in some civil actions.