Six people died and two were injured in the shootings at Kirkwood City Hall. Police have not released any names. The Post-Disptach has confirmed through officials and sources that the dead include: Councilmembers Connie Karr and Michael H.T. Lynch, Public Works Director Kenneth Yost, and police officers Tom Ballman and William Biggs. Mayor Mike Swoboda was injured. Police said the gunman, Charles Lee Thornton, also was killed.


CONNIE KARR

Karr, 51, was in her second term as a Kirkwood City Council member and had plans to run for mayor. She had worked as a media-relations specialist for Maritz Inc. and previously was a reporter for the St. Louis Globe-Democrat and the Moline Daily Dispatch.

Karr lived with her husband, Kevin Karr and her daughter, Lauren, 15.

Karr previously was married to Post-Dispatch sportswriter Rick Hummel, who is Lauren's father. Karr originally was from Park Forest, Ill., a Chicago suburb.

On Thursday night, Hummel spoke highly of Karr.

"Connie was running for mayor this year and was really looking forward to serving as mayor of Kirkwood. She was always politically minded. A great mother," he said.

U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, a friend and neighbor of Karr, said she was sickened by the news.

"You just think, 'My God, at the Kirkwood City Hall,'" McCaskill said.

She remembered Karr as friendly, enthusiastic and outgoing.

"She went full-bore all the time," McCaskill said. "She was just an incredibly outgoing and open person."

KENNETH YOST

Yost, 61, was the Kirkwood public works director. He lived in Ballwin. He was formerly Kirkwood's city engineer. Late last year he celebrated his 40th wedding anniversary with his wife, Cathy, with a seven-day cruise to Alaska, according to a write-up in the newsletter for the Kirkwood-Des Peres Area Chamber of Commerce. Cathy works at First Presbyterian Church of Kirkwood.

Tim Fischesser, executive director of the St. Louis County Municipal League, said he relied on Yost for advice when the league was dealing with issues relating to public works. "We could call Ken and get a quick answer. He was on top of every issue," Fischesser said.

TOM BALLMAN

Ballman was the Kirkwood Police Department's spokesman and community service officer.

WILLIAM BIGGS

William Biggs was with the department since at least the late 1980s.





MAYOR MIKE SWOBODA

Swoboda, 69, is coming to the end of his second and final term as mayor. Previously he served four terms on the City Council. When he was first elected mayor in 2000, he pledged to work to keep the city's traditional flavor.

"It's the hometown atmosphere — the tree-lined streets, the safe neighborhoods," he said.

Jennifer Gibney, who lives across the street from Swoboda and his wife Suzanne, described Mike Swoboda as friendly and a good neighbor.

"There isn't a time that he doesn't go by and wave to us," Gibney said. "He's just a really nice person."

Gibney said the Swobodas have two grown children.

Fischesser described Swoboda as "extremely gregarious, well liked by other mayors." Swoboda "felt that people who disagree should become less disagreeable," he added.

Webster Groves Mayor Gerry Welch said Swoboda has been known to wear red sweaters — Kirkwood High's predominant color is red — to meetings. "He's a man who absolutely loves Kirkwood," she said.

Swoboda also has served as the city's deputy mayor, a finance commissioner, and a police/fire commissioner. He's been president of the St. Louis County Municipal League, a board member with the East-West Gateway Coordinating Council and a member of the Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Steering Committee for the National League of Cities.




MICHAEL H.T. LYNCH

Lynch, 63, had been a Kirkwood city councilman since 2000. In the Post-Dispatch Voter's Guide in 2004, he said he was a managing principal of Facilities Solutions Inc. and had served for more than two decades as a citizen soldier in the Army Reserve, culminating as the executive officer of a battalion-level unit.

"He is one of the sweetest, kindest, nicest gentlemen," Webster Groves Mayor Gerry Welch said before Lynch's death was confirmed. "He always has a huge smile. He's very thoughtful — always so thoughtful. I used to look forward to sitting next to him at breakfasts or lunches. ... He's just so sweet."

Todd C. Frankel, Elizabethe Holland, Tim O'Neil, Christopher Ave, Fred Ehrlich, Phil Sutin and Matthew Franck of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.