Judge sentences Illinois man who fired shots at St. Louis police officers

ST. LOUIS, MO – United States District Judge John A. Ross sentenced Conrad Sparkman to 120 months in prison today, the statutory maximum for the offense of felon in possession of a firearm. The 36-year-old Cahokia, Illinois resident pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm on September 24, 2020.

On June 11, 2019, officers from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department tried to stop a vehicle operated by Sparkman for having a tinted windshield and an expired Missouri temporary license plate.

Sparkman fled from the officers at a high rate of speed.  Sparkman drove the vehicle the wrong way down a one-way street, into on-coming traffic and violated an electric signal.   The officers discontinued their pursuit of Sparkman.  The aviation unit monitored Sparkman’s path until he parked the vehicle in the 4100 block of Shreve.  Officers saw Sparkman and a woman exit the vehicle and walk away.  Officers tried to detain Sparkman, who ran away.   During a foot pursuit, Sparkman removed a firearm from his waistband and fired at an officer.

Officers returned fire at Sparkman.   Sparkman was shot in the left arm and right hand, which caused him to drop the firearm. Sparkman continued to run before falling near the sidewalk in the 4800 block of Bessie.   

Police recovered numerous items along Sparkman’s path, including a 9mm pistol loaded with one live round in the chamber and a magazine containing eight additional live rounds.   Prior to June 11, 2019, Sparkman had been previously convicted of the felonies of Robbery 2^nd degree and Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

“The Police Department is truly grateful for the partnership it has with the US Attorney’s Office in prosecuting violent felons to the fullest extent of the law,” said St. Louis Metropolitan Police Chief John Hayden. “This guilty plea is particularly meaningful and timely when you consider the unprecedented gun violence directed at our Officers, just this year alone.”

“Sparkman received the maximum sentence available, appropriately. We will not tolerate shooting at our brave police officers,” said Jeff Jensen, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri.

The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys John Bird and Jason Dunkel are handling the case.

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