A St. Louis County man has admitted to shooting at multiple police officers in an incident that took place in 2024. Dylan Farmer, 21, from Breckenridge Hills, Missouri, pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court in St. Louis to four counts of assaulting a law enforcement officer and two counts of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
Farmer confessed that on February 13, 2024, officers from the St. Louis County Police Department Special Response Unit were attempting to locate an individual wanted for a double homicide. The suspect's vehicle was parked on Virginia Avenue in St. Louis when Farmer approached it. Officers, who were wearing vests labeled "Police" and using vehicles with blue flashing lights, moved to detain him. These officers were also task force members with the U.S. Marshals Service and the FBI.
As three task force officers arrived in their SUV, Farmer opened fire with a .45-caliber semiautomatic handgun equipped with a 50-round drum magazine, damaging their vehicle. The officers returned fire as Farmer fled across the street and between buildings, firing at them several times before eventually hiding on Alaska Avenue's front porch.
When located by officers again, Farmer fired upon them once more before surrendering after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds. He received medical attention from the officers on site before being taken to the hospital.
During the confrontation, one officer was injured by flying glass caused by a ricocheted bullet while another officer sustained an ankle injury after jumping out of his car for cover.
Farmer admitted to initiating fire against police personnel.
Under the plea agreement terms, both parties have recommended a sentence of 22 years for Farmer during his sentencing set for September 23rd. The firearm charges carry mandatory minimum sentences of ten years each.
The investigation involved collaboration between the St. Louis County Police Department, FBI, St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, and U.S. Marshals Service with Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul D’Agrosa prosecuting.
