Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Michael King was shot and killed from ambush as he sat in his patrol car at the intersection of Leland Avenue and Delmar Boulevard. A known criminal approached his vehicle on foot and opened fire without warning, fatally wounding Sergeant King.
The suspect fled the scene but was arrested five days later following a traffic stop by members of the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
During his trial, the subject stated he targeted and ambushed Sergeant King because he wanted to start a racial revolution by murdering a police officer. On April 13th, 2011, the subject was sentenced to two life terms in prison for murdering Sergeant King.
Sergeant King had served with the University City Police Department for 25 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-255BFDCB- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
25 years. You could have gone home.
Sergeant King gave the University City Police Department 25 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the University City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant King.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant Michael R. King is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In MO, 516 of 813 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.5% of this state's fallen. That is 9.3 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At University City Police Department, 4 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Michael R. King's cause is highlighted.
How Michael R. King Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Michael R. King is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Michael R. King was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from University City Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
