On the evening of February 28, 1979, the community of Charleston, Missouri, was shaken by a violent chain of events that claimed the life of 32-year-old Gordon Leon Galemore. Serving as a Deputy Sheriff for the Mississippi County Sheriff's Department and as a juvenile officer, Galemore was on duty transporting two brothers to a residence in the Plainview addition. Earlier that night, at approximately 9:38 p.m., a robbery had occurred at a Fina Station on West Marshall Street.
An alert had been broadcasted for a 29-year-old male suspect who was reportedly intoxicated.
As Deputy Galemore continued his transport, the robbery suspect unexpectedly entered the front seat of the patrol vehicle. The individual asked the deputy to drop him off at a different location. Galemore drove the vehicle to a parking lot situated behind the local police station. Once parked, the situation escalated rapidly when both the deputy and the suspect drew their weapons. A gun battle ensued within the confines of the car, during which several shots were fired. Galemore was struck in the chest and exited the vehicle before collapsing on the pavement, where he succumbed to his injuries.
The suspect, who had also sustained a gunshot wound from Galemore during the exchange, attempted to flee the scene on foot. His escape was short-lived as he was confronted by Missouri Trooper Dennis Lewis, who shot him. The wounded suspect continued to pose a threat until he was fatally shot minutes later by Deputy Sheriff Robert Smith in a nearby parking lot behind an insurance agency on Main Street. Because the assailant died from the wounds received during the confrontation with law enforcement, there were no subsequent arrests, trials, or convictions related to the murder.
