John Perry, a 48-year-old Deputy U.S. Marshal who had been with the agency for nearly 10 years, died at 7 p.m. local time on Tuesday night after being shot during a fugitive apprehension in St. Louis, Mo.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Theodore Abegg, a 31-year-old who had been with the agency for three years, and a task force officer were also injured in the shootout, the U.S. Marshals Service said.
The U.S. Marshals Service said Perry, Abegg and other Deputy U.S. Marshals were working alongside task force officers from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department this morning to apprehend Carlos Boles, who was killed when officers returned fire. Boles had been wanted on a state warrant for felony assault on a police officer and possession of a controlled substance.
“Our people and our partners are well trained and prepared, but it is impossible to predict when a wanted individual will make a fateful choice that results in the loss of life or injury,”
U.S. Marshals Director Stacia A. Hylton said in a statement. “When that happens, and the life lost is a law enforcement officer or other public servant, it is an immeasurable tragedy felt by all.”
“Today, unfortunately, we again feel that pain,” Hylton said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with our fallen deputy as well as the injured and their families.”
ABC News radio affiliate KTRS reported that the suspect told authorities that he was “only going out in a body bag” when they arrived at his home.
A LinkedIn profile that appeared to be Perry’s said he graduated from Southern Illinois University in 1984.
Before the death last month of deputy U.S. Marshal Derek Hotsinpiller, a deputy U.S. Marshal hadn’t been killed by gunfire in the line of duty since 1992.
