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 his actions during a trick-or-treating event in October 2023, where he fired a gun into the air and threatened attendees. McCulloch, 40, had previously pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including six counts of endangering the welfare of a child and making a terroristic threat.

The incident unfolded in Kirkwood, a suburb of St. Louis, during a school-sponsored event attended by hundreds of families. McCulloch, who was off-duty and with his family, began to harass event-goers, warning them, "You are all going to die." Tensions escalated when another attendee pushed him to the ground, prompting McCulloch to reveal his handgun and badge before discharging the weapon approximately a dozen times into the air.

Fortunately, no one was injured during the chaos as trick-or-treaters scrambled for safety. Bystanders eventually intervened, tackling McCulloch and seizing his firearm. Authorities noted the distress experienced by those present, particularly the children, due to McCulloch's actions.

In a statement following the sentencing, St. Louis County prosecuting attorney Melissa Price Smith expressed relief that no physical harm occurred and emphasized the impact of McCulloch's actions on the victims. She hoped the court's decision would provide some measure of closure for those affected.

Subsequent to the incident, police confirmed that McCulloch no longer worked for the department, but did not provide further details regarding his employment status.