Woman Dead And Officers Hospitalized After Suspect Sets Them On Fire

Baxter Springs police officers set on fire.

Baxter Springs Officer Hospitalized, Woman Killed After Being Set On Fire

Baxter Springs, KS – A woman is dead and a Baxter Springs police officer is in serious condition after a suspect set them on fire early Saturday morning.

The incident happened just before 1:30 AM at 1007 W.11th Street in Baxter Springs, after the suspect broke into the home of 65-year-old Sharon Horn, according to KZRG. Horn was able to call police during the incident.

After the suspect broke in, he started physically assaulting Horn. When officers arrived, the suspect doused Horn, himself, and two police officers with fuel. He then set them all on fire.

A third officer was burned as he worked to put out the flames.

Cherokee County Sheriff David Groves told KRZG, “The female victim, the suspect, and one of the officers were transported to a Springfield hospital. The other two officers from Baxter were transported to a Joplin hospital were they’ve since been treated and released.”

Horn died from her injuries just before 7 AM. The officer who was transported to Springfield Hospital is in serious condition in the burn unit, and is undergoing surgery.

The status of the suspect has not been released.

The call was initially reported to be a domestic violence situation, but investigators determined that Horn and the suspect were only acquaintances.

The suspect’s motive behind the attack is not known at this time.

The investigation is being conducted by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured officer and the family of Sharon Horn.

This is a developing story and we will keep you updated. For all of our updates, follow us on Facebook and go to your news feed preferences under your settings, then select that you want to see more of Blue Lives Matter posts in your news feed. Otherwise, Facebook may not show you updates.