Home Scandal and Gossip Russian roulette gone bad: St Louis cop charged in rookie’s death

Russian roulette gone bad: St Louis cop charged in rookie’s death

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St Louis Police Officer Katlyn Alix2
Pictured, St Louis Police Officer Katlyn Alix
St Louis Police Officer Katlyn Alix2
Pictured, St Louis Police Officer Katlyn Alix

St Louis Police Officer Katlyn Alix killed by fellow cop, Nathaniel Hendren in a game of Russian roulette gone bad at cop’s house. Investigation launched.

##Update: History of abuse: Former St Louis police officer pleads guilty in Russian roulette killing of fellow cop

A male St. Louis police officer has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in the shooting death of a female officer during what was described as a deadly game with a revolver early Thursday morning. 

Come Friday, Nathaniel Hendren, 29, was charged in the shooting death of 24-year-old Katlyn Alix, as the fellow police officers allegedly played a game in which a revolver’s cylinder was emptied, one bullet put back and the two colleagues took turns pointing at each other and pulling the trigger- otherwise known as Russian roulette.

Alix was with two male officers at an apartment when she was killed just before 1 a.m. Thursday according to a probably cause issued by Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner‘s office.

The statement said Alix and Hendren were playing with guns when Hendren produced a revolver.

‘The defendant emptied the cylinder of the revolver and then put one cartridge back into the cylinder,’ the statement said. He allegedly spun the cylinder, pointed the gun away and pulled the trigger.

The gun did not fire. The statement said Alix took the gun, pointed it at Hendren and pulled the trigger. Again, it didn’t fire.

Hendren ‘took the gun back and pointed it at the victim (and) pulled the trigger causing the gun to discharge,’ the statement said. ‘The victim was struck in the chest.’

The other male officer told investigators he warned Hendren and Alix not to play with guns and reminded them they were police officers. He was about to leave when he heard the fatal shot, the statement said.

The male officers drove Alix to a hospital where she died.

Investigation launched in St Louis Police Officer Katlyn Alix shooting death:

The two men were on-duty at the time of the shooting. Police Chief John Hayden has declined to answer questions about why the officers had gathered at the apartment, which was home to one of the men.

Alix was a patrol officer who had graduated from the St. Louis Police Academy in January 2017. 

Hendren had been on the police force for about a year. He is charged with felony counts of first-degree involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action, and faces three to 10 years in prison if convicted.

St. Louis police said the charges were the result of a promise Hayden made to Alix’s family to conduct a ‘thorough and competent investigation.’

Alix, a military veteran who was married, was not working but met the men at the apartment.

Police have launched an internal investigation and placed both officers on paid leave. Social media posts have alluded to alcohol possibly having been involved in the tragedy.

Gardner also began her own investigation on Thursday and enlisted the Missouri State Highway Patrol to conduct it.

Read a statement in part that Gardner issued Friday, ‘hold people accountable who violate Missouri law regardless of their profession, public status, or station in life.’

‘Today, much as it saddens my staff and me to file these charges, Katlyn and her family deserve accountability and justice’.

St Louis Police Officer Katlyn Alix
St Louis Police Officer Katlyn Alix
St Louis Officer Nathaniel Hendren
St Louis Officer Nathaniel Hendren
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