ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - The man wanted for wounding his wife and killing her father last week in Fenton, has killed himself in Arkansas.
St. Louis County Police say James Kempf committed suicide while officers were trying to take him into custody in a rural area of northwest Arkansas.
John Colter, 66, was fatally shot in the head on Jan. 23 at a home near Fenton, and Colter’s daughter was shot in the leg. Police have been searching for the 45-year-old Kempf since the shooting.
Kempf was charged in at-large warrants Friday with second-degree murder, assault and two counts of armed criminal action.
Colter’s daughter filed for divorce last year and obtained an order of protection against Kempf, alleging he had made physical and verbal threats during a custody exchange. The Kempfs have two children, ages 4 and 8.
Kempf’s wife was able to flee after being shot and called 911, police said. For hours, police thought Kempf was barricaded in the home. Tactical officers tried to contact him and get him to surrender peacefully. But when police got into the house and found Colter dead, they realized Kempf had already fled.