James Wolf

Deadly force

Two Branson officers shot and killed an unidentified man when he allegedly pointed a gun at them after kidnapping a woman in Hollister and leading police on a car chase. Hollister police had requested the help of Branson police at about 7 a.m. after the man reportedly entered a home, took a woman hostage at gunpoint and drove toward Branson. Also responding were the Taney County Sheriff's Office and the Missouri Highway Patrol. According to police, the man tried to ram a patrol car, then fled on foot after officers disabled his car with spike strips. Police tried unsuccessfully to subdue the man with a Taser. The man ran into the Carson's Country Court mobile home park and crossed the Branson city limit into the county. The man hid behind a large tree and pointed a handgun at the officers, who then shot him.