The last time there was a officer involved shooting that resulted in a fatality was October 2003. Officer Jeff Ferneau has been placed on administrative leave pending investigation of the incident (which is standard PD procedure.) He’s a twelve year veteran of the force.
Here’s the Springfield PD’s report of the incident:
Earlier today, a Springfield Police Officer shot a man threatening officers with a knife. The incident happened around 1:45AM. Officers assigned to the MSU substation had been dispatched across the street to 701 E Elm, to investigate an assault that occurred just outside of the address. The caller reported to 911 that a neighbor from next door assaulted the caller’s girlfriend, but no weapons had been seen.
As officers arrived, they contacted the victim and verified that she had been assaulted; her face was bleeding and bruised, but she initially refused medical attention. While speaking with officers, she suddenly pointed out a subject nearby and identified him as the suspect responsible for the assault.
As officers began to approach the suspect, he fled to his upstairs apartment in the building at 701 E Elm and slammed the door shut. The only route to access the apartment was a flight of exterior stairs that terminated at a small landing, approximately three feet across. Two officers climbed the stairs, led by Officer Jeff Ferneau. Due to lack of space outside the suspect’s door, only Ferneau was able to stand in front of the door. After negotiating with the suspect for a few minutes through the door, it suddenly flew open and Ferneau saw the suspect lunging towards him with a large knife in his hand. To stop the threat, Ferneau fired his weapon at the suspect, striking him in the upper body. The suspect died immediately.
The suspect was identified as Donald Gaches, 43 years old, of Springfield. Gaches had a lengthy criminal history including convictions for DWI, Drug Violations, Failure to Appear and Making a False Police Report. Also, he was responsible for ten Domestic Disturbances, four Domestic Assaults, four Exparte/Order of Protection Violations and one harassment case within Springfield city limits, all in the last six years.
Jeff is a good man. I went to the police academy with him back in the late 80’s at Missouri Southern, and recently have talked with him a few times in Nixa. My thoughts and prayers are with him, as I know this is a very difficult time for him.
I worked with donny gaches for 6 years, and remained friends with him for many years after that, and although i have not been in much contact with him recently, i still feel confident in my assesment of him as a person.
donny was the kind of guy who was nice to everyone, if he was your friend, and you needed something, donny was the first to volunteer to give it to you. He was not the kind of man who abused women, even though his police record would suggest that. His ex-wife, mona was a severely manic, bi-polar person, who had donny assaulted several times by her brothers. when he tried to leave her, she had him attacked, and when the police showed up, it was HE who recieved the assault charge and exparte… I was there, donny was attacked by 3 men with a tire iron, was bleeding badly and had never once attempted to harm mona, but the police showed up and gave HIM the assault charge, without attempting to find the truth.
I don’t know what happened the night he was killed, i know he was intoxicated and i put no limit to what intoxicated people are capable of. and i understand that if the officer felt threatened he was within his right to protect himself. i do not believe that the officer isn’t a good person. but the media is making donny out to be this guy that he wasn’t at all. I also believe that non-deadly force would have been sufficient in this case.
To anon, more like moron,
First of all Donny never worked in one particular business for more than four years. As of his friends, Donny had very little friends. I, as his wife, new every single one of them. As for my brothers beating him as you state, Donny was a serious cop caller himself. He would never have hesitated calling the cops on my brothers to have them arrested. You must have not known that up to the last dying day, my family and him were close. As for me being bipolar or manic depressive, that can’t possibly be true. I’m still in the same business since I was married to Donny the last seven years. If you know of anyone that is bipolar or manic depressant, they can’t hold anything together. Trust me, I have it together! I guess that’s why his family want me to handle his arrangements and we will do so with the up most great respect. So get your facts straight before you write them in. When you’re only saying awful things about his wife, or anything else that concerned his life, you are continuing the hurt and being disrespectful. So if you are really his friend, stay out of our life and our business!
Monalynn Gaches
Monalynn,
You can’t worry about anon posters. Don’t feel like you have to defend yourself. Those who know you and your family will know the truth. I’m sorry for your loss.
SG
Donnie was a good person. He had his faults just like everyone does. I know the family very will as i am part of the family. And i dont think that deadly force was needed. Aunt Mona my heart goes out to you, and i love you all.
the last time i seen donnie was when i was 16. He was someone I could always talk to about anything. He is one cousin I’m going to miss and I’m sorry that happen to him I just wish I knew about it sooner I’ve would have like to said good-bye to him. To all of his family I have not yet meet I’m sorry for your loss.