Missouri Officer Shot During Traffic Stop, Man Charged

Police investigate a scene in Ballwin, Mo., Friday, July 8, 2016, after a Ballwin police officer was shot during a confrontation with a man on a street. Authorities say the wounded police officer is hospitalized didn't offer any immediate word about the officer’s medical status. A suspect is in custody, and a handgun has been recovered. (Cristina Fletes/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP)

KANSAS CITY, Mo.  — A suburban St. Louis police officer was “ambushed” during a traffic stop Friday and critically injured when he was shot at least once from behind as he walked to his patrol car to check the suspect’s driving status, authorities said.

Antonio Taylor, a 31-year-old black man who was paroled in 2015 after serving time on a federal weapons charge, was charged with assault of a police officer, armed criminal action and a felon in possession of a firearm, St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch said Friday.

McCulloch said there’s no evidence of any dispute between Taylor and the officer before the gunfire. Ballwin Police Chief Kevin Scott said he “can’t even begin to speculate” about a motive, including whether the shooting involving the white officer, a nine-year police veteran, had racial overtones.

“It’s an unfortunate state of events we’re dealing with right now,” he said. “I do understand the silent majority out there supports us.”

Taylor is being held on $500,000 cash bond and is expected to be arraigned on the felony charges Monday morning.