Kirkwood City Hall Shooting

8. February 2008 by Max.

What do you do when national news breaks in your back yard?

You cover it. That seems like a simple decision for most photojournalists. But when you are working at a student newspaper that requires a connection, it takes a little more thought.

Last night as I walked into our newsroom I got a text message about two police officers being shot in Kirkwood. I turned on the news and realized that this was a big deal. Early reports were saying that six were dead inside the city hall. As I sat wondering if I should cover it, I thought back on my early journalism classes. One of the categories that determines the newsworthiness of an event is proximity. Being that the shooting was under five miles from my university, I thought this fit.

I called around to get hold of a reporter and then we rushed to the scene. Most of my photos were scene setters or CSA (cops standing around) but it was definitely a different experience from quiet Webster Groves.

Here are some of the photos that I took that night:

After about six hours of late night work and then only a few hours of sleep, it was time to go back out to the court house for additional coverage. That is when I got a photo of the brother of the shooter:

Tonight it is back to the city hall again for a vigil. This is a huge story that is rocking the community and the nation. I am glad that I had the news judgement to go cover it.

-Max Gersh-
http://www.gershphotopost.com

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