PARIS – Two men died and a sheriff’s deputy was injured in separate but related incidents Sunday morning.

Ralls County Sheriff’s deputies responded Sunday to a report of a possible shooting near Monroe City. The incident sparked a widespread law enforcement response that ultimately led to a gunfire exchange on West Monroe Street in Paris later that afternoon.

A Randolph County deputy was injured in the Paris shooting while assisting with a homicide investigation that began earlier in Ralls County. Authorities confirmed the two incidents are directly connected. The homicide victim has been identified as a man from Perry.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP), the Division of Drug and Crime Control was requested by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office to investigate the officer-involved shooting. The event stemmed from the earlier homicide investigation being led by the Ralls County Sheriff’s Office.

“The death investigation this morning and this incident in Paris this afternoon were in fact related,” said Ralls County Chief Deputy Capt. Kevin Coates in a statement Sunday. “MSHP is still in charge of the death investigation in Ralls County.”

The investigation began when Ralls County authorities discovered the body of the Perry man with a gunshot wound near Monroe City. Around 1:50 p.m., officers with MSHP’s Division of Drug and Crime Control, Randolph County deputies, and Operation Relentless Pursuit officers responded to a residence in Paris to locate a person of interest tied to the homicide.

Upon entering the home, officers were met with gunfire from an adult male. A Randolph County deputy was struck during the exchange. Officers returned fire and exited the residence. The injured deputy, who is also assigned to Operation Relentless Pursuit, was transported by EMS to a local hospital and remains in care with non-life-threatening injuries.

By 2 p.m., the Moberly Police Department’s SWAT team had arrived on scene and began efforts to make contact with the suspect. At approximately 4:50 p.m., SWAT officers entered the residence and found the suspect, identified as 57-year-old Charles W. Armour of Paris, deceased inside.

“This is an ongoing investigation, and there is still a significant law enforcement presence in Paris,” said Monroe County Sheriff Joe Colston. “However, the scene is secure and there is no ongoing threat to the community.”

MSHP officials confirmed both the homicide investigation in Ralls County and the officer-involved shooting in Monroe County are active and ongoing. Once completed, the results of both investigations will be submitted to the respective county prosecuting attorneys for review.

To preserve the integrity of the investigation, authorities have stated that no further information is being released at this time.

For official updates, the public is encouraged to contact MSHP Sergeant Bradley Germann at 573-526-6122.