Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant William Biggs and Police Officer Thomas Ballman were shot and killed when a man opened fire at a Kirkwood city council meeting. The man had held a grudge against the city council for several years and had filed several lawsuits against the city.
The man approached Sergeant Biggs across the street from the city hall and asked him what time the meeting started, then pulled out a handgun and fatally shot him in the head. The man then took Sergeant Biggs' service weapon and walked across the street into the city hall.
When he entered the council chambers, he approached Officer Ballman, who was sitting in the front of the room and also fatally shot him in the head. The man then opened fire on the other occupants of the room, killing two council members and the director of public works before being shot and killed by two other officers.
Sergeant Biggs had served with the Kirkwood Police Department for 20 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-249F0643- 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
20 years. You could have gone home.
Sergeant Biggs gave the Kirkwood Police Department 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Kirkwood community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Biggs.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant William King Biggs, Jr. 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 Kirkwood 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. William King Biggs, Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How William King Biggs, Jr. Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William King Biggs, Jr. is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William King Biggs, Jr. was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Kirkwood Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
