A fatal fire in Trenton on Sunday night led to a standoff in the small town of McFall in Daviess County on Monday afternoon.
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The incident involved as many as 10 law enforcement agencies. It ended when the suspect, David Call, a 1983 graduate of Jamesport High School, apparently took his own life after barricading himself inside a residence east of McFall.
Mr. Call opened fire on officers who went to the door in reference to the Trenton homicide, according to Sgt. Jacob Angle, public information officer with the Missouri Highway Patrol, stationed in St. Joseph. Mr. Call fired at the officers with a .338 caliber high-powered rifle, according to court documents.
“This was somebody willing to shoot at the police,” said Sgt. Angle, explaining the large number of law enforcement who responded to the scene. “Nobody knew how long the standoff would last. Manpower is needed to relieve officers, to rotate people in and out.”
Officers were notified that Mr. Call was a former law enforcement officers, which further heightened the need for caution.
The fatal house fire at Trenton happened on Sunday night, Oct. 26. The Trenton Fire Department discovered a body in a home, at 602 Grundy Street, completely engulfed in flames. The body was later identified as Rebecca Taul, 53. She was an ex-girlfriend of Mr. Call’s and their relationship had recently ended.
Mr. Call, 50, Kansas City, was charged Monday in Grundy County with first-degree murder, armed criminal action, second-degree arson and abandonment of a corpse in connection with the house fire. A no-bond warrant was issued for his arrest.
The Daviess County Sheriff became involved at about 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 27, when the Grundy County Sheriff activated the Major Case Squad to assist in the investigation of the homicide in Trenton.
On October 27, 2014, the Daviess County Sheriff’s Department, along with the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Grundy County Sheriff’s Department, and Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, responded to a residence at McFall, the home of a friend of Mr. Call’s. Officers attempted to contact Mr. Call.
He was traced to the location by pings on his cell phone. Sgt. Angle said officers did not know at first if anyone else was in the home.
“A hostage situation is part of our fear,” Sgt. Angle said. “The home owner was contacted at work and was able to provide information about the house.”
The house is located at the edge of McFall near the intersection of Route T and AA Hwy.
Officers arrived at the residence at about 3:50 p.m. Mr. Call fired several rounds at them, at least two rounds striking a Grundy County Sheriff patrol car and another round striking a state highway patrol car. Mr. Call then barricaded himself inside the residence.
Additional officers arrived and established a perimeter. Negotiations with Call were ongoing, but contact was eventually lost.
At approximately 8 p.m., entry was made into the residence where Mr. Call was found deceased from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The investigation continues by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Trenton Police Department, Grundy County Sheriff’s Department, and Daviess County Sheriff’s Department.
McFall is located northwest of Pattonsburg with about 93 people living there. Roads into the community were closed during the standoff.
Officers from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Daviess County Sheriff’s Department, Grundy County Sheriff’s Department, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department, Clinton County Sheriff’s Department, Harrison County Sheriff’s Department, Gentry County Sheriff’s Department, St. Joseph Police Department, and Cameron Police Department responded. Three armored vehicles, including Buchanan County’s M-RAP, also responded.