Procession Brings Slain Missouri Officer's Body Home

KANSAS CITY, MO — The body of a slain western Missouri police officer has been returned to his home, accompanied by law enforcement officers in a long procession.

Officer Gary Michael was fatally shot Sunday during a traffic stop in Clinton, about 70 miles (113 kilometers) southeast of Kansas City. His body had been in Kansas City while an autopsy was performed.

On Wednesday, a long line of law enforcement vehicles from across Missouri escorted his body home with emergency lights flashing. Vehicles stopped as the procession passed and onlookers paused to watch:

Hundreds of residents waited with police officers to greet Michael's body when it arrived in Clinton. Michael was the first officer killed in the line of duty in the city of about 9,000 residents.

At the funeral home, his fellow officers saluted as his body was carried into the building.

The suspect in the killing, 39-year-old Ian McCarthy of Clinton, was captured Tuesday night. He's charged with first-degree murder.

Image via the Clinton Police Department