A former St. Louis police officer is sentenced to probation for shooting at trick-or-treating event

CLAYTON, Mo. (AP) -- A former St. Louis County police officer, Matthew McCulloch, was sentenced to five years of probation for a frightening incident at a trick-or-treating event where he fired a gun into the air and made terroristic threats. McCulloch, 40, pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including endangering the welfare of a child and unlawful use of a weapon, in connection with the October 2023 confrontation in Kirkwood, a suburb of St. Louis.

The incident occurred during a school-sponsored event attended by hundreds when McCulloch, who was off-duty and with his family, began harassing attendees. He approached people, yelling, "You are all going to die." Tensions escalated when a man pushed McCulloch down, prompting him to reveal his handgun and badge before firing the weapon into the air approximately twelve times.

The chaotic scene led trick-or-treaters to rush for safety, and several individuals managed to subdue McCulloch and take away his firearm. Fortunately, no one was injured, but the event left many participants, especially children, traumatized.

St. Louis County prosecuting attorney Melissa Price Smith expressed gratitude that no physical harm occurred and hoped the sentence would provide closure to those affected by McCulloch's actions. She described the situation as tragic and emphasized the impact on the community.

Following the incident, police announced that McCulloch was no longer with the police department, although they did not provide specific details regarding his employment status.