On the afternoon of March 8, 2022, law enforcement officers in Joplin, Missouri, responded to a disturbance call that would result in a tragic loss for the local community. Corporal Benjamin Lee Cooper, a 46-year-old male veteran of the force, was among the first to arrive at a shopping center located in the 400 block of Geneva Avenue. The call, which came in shortly after 1:00 p.m., concerned a reported disturbance involving an armed individual.
Upon arrival, officers identified the subject and attempted to take him into custody near the intersection of Fourth Street and Range Line Road.
The situation escalated violently when the suspect, identified as 40-year-old Anthony R. Felix, produced a firearm and opened fire on the officers attempting to detain him. Corporal Cooper and his colleague, Officer Jake Reed, were both struck by gunfire during the initial exchange. In the chaos that followed, Felix commandeered a police patrol vehicle and fled the scene, leaving the two critically wounded officers behind. The stolen cruiser was later found wrecked, indicating the suspect had continued his flight on foot.
A massive police response ensued as officers tracked Felix to the area of Ninth Street and Connecticut Avenue, roughly a mile from the original shooting site. During this secondary encounter, the gunman fired upon a third officer, Rick Hirshey, striking him as he sat in his patrol vehicle attempting to contain the suspect. The rampage finally came to an end when Captain William Davis engaged Felix, fatally shooting him to prevent further harm to officers and bystanders. Felix was pronounced dead following the confrontation, ending the immediate threat to the public.
Corporal Cooper was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead. He was a dedicated public servant who had served in the United States Army before beginning his law enforcement career, which spanned nearly two decades and included service in both Missouri and Colorado. He left behind a wife and two daughters. Officer Jake Reed also died from his injuries days later, making the incident the deadliest day in the history of the Joplin Police Department. Because the suspect was killed during the final shootout, there were no arrests or subsequent legal proceedings in connection with the murders.
