Connie Karr, 51, was killed on February 7, 2008, inside Kirkwood City Hall during a meeting she attended as a city councilwoman. A former journalist and creative director, Karr was serving her second term on the council and was described as a wife and mother to a teenage daughter.

The attack followed a prolonged dispute between city officials and Charles Lee Cookie Thornton, a local contractor who had repeatedly confronted the council over code violations, parking tickets and what he said were racially motivated actions. Thornton arrived at City Hall armed, shot and killed Police Sergeant William Biggs in the parking lot, then entered the council chamber and opened fire. Councilwoman Karr was fatally struck along with Councilman Michael Lynch, Public Works Director Kenneth Yost and Police Officer Tom Ballman; Mayor Mike Swoboda was critically wounded.

Responding officers engaged Thornton inside the chambers and shot and killed him; investigators later concluded he acted alone.