2 dead after Jefferson County nursing home standoff

KSDK-- A man and his estranged wife are dead after a standoff and shooting outside a southern Jefferson County, Missouri nursing home.

The incident started Saturday afternoon in the parking lot of the Baisch Nursing Center, where the woman, 68, worked.

Jefferson County Deputies say a man, 70, went to his estranged wife's workplace to confront her.  The facility is located along route 67 southeast of DeSoto.

Ralph Brown is a captain in the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department.

"Units made a visual of him," said Brown, "they observed the victim try to make a run from him, at which time he started firing a weapon at her, striking her.  Then the sheriff's tactical unit returned fire, striking the suspect."

Brown said before that, the suspect also fired at woman who was a co-worker of his wife.  The two walked to the parking lot together.

"Witnesses saw him point a gun at the co-worker," said Brown.  "She was leaving work, also.  Apparently she turned her vehicle around, at which time he fired at least one round in the direction of her vehicle.  However she remained unharmed."

Police say this was a domestic situation.  In fact, earlier in the week, the victim had taken measures to protect herself from the suspect.

Brown said, "We did serve the suspect with an order of protection... and apparently this domestic situation heightened when he arrived at that parking lot."

Captain Brown said the nursing home was placed on lock-down while the shooting was unfolding outside.

"All drapes, blinds closed, doors secure," said Brown.  "No patients are allowed in front of windows or doors and are taken to an area in the facility where they remained secure. All those measures were followed."

The victim's and suspect's names are not yet being released.