Man who died in Poplar Bluff officer-involved shooting identified

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. (KFVS) - The Missouri State Highway Patrol is investigating an officer-involved shooting in southeast Missouri.

According to MSHP Sgt. Clark Parrott, the man was identified as 55-year-old Bennie D. Foster, Jr. of Poplar Bluff.

Poplar Bluff police responded to a burglar alarm at a business just after 12 a.m. on Wednesday, November 17 in the 200 block of Highway 53.

Sgt. Parrott said officers were confronted by a person with a weapon, “in a threatening manner.”

Officers fired their weapons, hitting the man. He was pronounced dead by the Butler County coroner.

According to Poplar Bluff Police Chief Danny Whiteley, four officers are on paid administrative leave.

The highway patrol is investigating the officer-involved shooting at the request of the Poplar Bluff Police Department.

Chief Whiteley said his department is fully cooperating with the Missouri State Highway Patrol Division of Drug and Crime Control investigation into the shooting, which is standard operating procedure.

The investigation is ongoing by both agencies.

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