Cpl. Benjamin Cooper, 46, a former K9 Officer, was shot and killed after responding to a disturbance call at a shopping center on 3/8/22 at approximately 1:32 pm. Two other officers, Jake Reed,27, and Rick Hirshey, were also shot in the confrontation. Reed did not survive his injuries and died three days later on 3/11/22 and donated his organs before dying. The incident started when officers were called to a disturbance with an armed man identified as Anthony R. Felix, 40, near the intersection of Fourth Street and Range Line Road. Reed and Cooper attempted to arrest Felix, but he shot both of them and stole a police cruiser. Other officers chased the patrol vehicle, which led to a car wreck. The man then fled on foot to Ninth Street and Connecticut Avenue, roughly a mile from the original shooting, where he encountered more police officers. Anthony Felix then took cover behind a van and opened fire on a third officer who was still inside his cruiser, severely wounding him. Felix continued shooting at the responding officers until being fatally wounded by return fire. Hirshey had attempted to box-in Felix as a way to stop him. Reed had been with the department for five years, joining in 2017 and is survived by his wife. Hirshey is in serious but stable condition. Cpl. Benjamin Cooper had over 19 years in law enforcement, he honorably served as a patrolman, investigator, firearms instructor, SWAT officer, field training officer, canine officer, and internal affairs officer. Cpl. Cooper served in the U.S. Army from 1995 to 2001. He served in the Joplin Police Department from 2004 to 2008, when he left to serve as a deputy sheriff in Colorado. He returned to the Joplin Police Department in 2013 and was promoted to corporal in 2016. Cpl. Cooper is survived by his wife Roxy and two daughters, Tiffany and Ashley. Contributions to Cpl. Benjamin Cooper may be made to a family fund in Roxy Cooper’s name in care of the mortuary.
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