Suspect identified in Jefferson City officer-involved shooting

Two Jefferson City police officers are on paid administrative leave after they shot a man while responding to a domestic disturbance call early Tuesday morning, police said.

According to a press release sent out by the Jefferson City Police Department, the man, John Loaiza, 40, of Jefferson City, was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Police said they responded to a domestic disturbance in the 300 block of East Dunklin Street just after midnight.

Police said once officers arrived, they tried to contact Loaiza, but instead were forced to back away after Loaiza threatened them, asking if they wanted to die.

Loaiza broke out several windows of the home with a metal pipe and told officers to shoot him, police said.

Police said Loaiza later charged at the officers with the pipe still in his hand, forcing them into the street.

Loaiza continued to go toward the officers with the pipe and the officers fired their guns, police said.

Police said the incident was not the first time Loaiza threatened police.

They said that in June a similar incident occurred, in which officers responded to a domestic disturbance involving Loaiza. At that time, Loaiza was holding a knife and a baseball bat while charging at officers.

That situation ended with Loaiza’s arrested on felony charges.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol is conducting an external investigation of the officer-involved shooting.