For a 24-hour period, mid-Missouri experienced one of the largest manhunts in state history when more than 200 officers from 15 departments searched for a man on a shooting spree who killed a sheriff, two deputies and the wife of a sheriff. At approximately 7:00 pm on December 10, 1991, Moniteau County Reserve Deputy Sheriff Leslie Roark answered a family disturbance call at the residence of Oyfeider James Johnson, located about two miles south of Jamestown, Missouri. Deputy Roark spoke to Johnson on the porch for a few minutes. After Deputy Roark returned to his vehicle, Johnson shot Deputy Roark twice with a pistol. Johnson went back inside his residence, collected several weapons and ammunition, exited the residence again when he heard Deputy Roark moaning and again shot Deputy Roark in the head. He was transported to a local hospital where he died the next day.

Johnson drove to Clarksburg, Missouri to the residence of Moniteau County Sheriff Ken Jones where a Christmas party was being held. Using a .22 caliber rifle, Johnson fired on a group of people he observed through a window fatally wounding the sheriff's wife, Pam Jones, five times in the head, shoulder, face and neck. Johnson then drove to the residence of Moniteau County Deputy Sheriff Sonny Connell in California, Missouri but the residence was damaged by fire the week before and was vacant. Johnson abandoned his vehicle there and walked to the home of Moniteau County Deputy Sheriff Russell Borts located approximately two blocks from the Moniteau County Jail and fired into the residence striking Deputy Borts four times, striking him in the face, hand and chest, but he survived his injuries.

Johnson then went to the Moniteau County Sheriff's Department where officers from around the area gathered following the shootings. Officers began exiting the building in response to the call of the shooting at Deputy Borts' residence unaware that Johnson was lying in wait outside. Johnson opened fire shooting Cooper County Sheriff Charles Smith four times with a .22 caliber rifle, fatally wounding him in the face, head, side and back. Moments later, Miller County Deputy Sheriff Sandra Wilson arrived at the sheriff's office. Johnson shot her in the chest with an 8mm rifle Mauser rifle as she exited her patrol vehicle. Deputy Wilson also died at the scene. With the shooter at large, Sheriff Smith and Deputy Wilson's bodies were left lying where they fell until mid-morning.

Johnson was able to escape the scene and hid on the back porch of a local residence. In the morning Johnson confronted the female resident of the home and held her hostage for most of the day. Johnson allowed her to leave the residence to attend a Christmas party where she was expected. Once out of the house the woman notified authorities who surrounded the residence. Johnson surrendered at 6:45 pm. He was executed January 9, 2002.

Moniteau County Reserve Deputy Leslie Roark served with the Moniteau County Sheriff's Department for two years and just began working as a reserve at the Tipton Police Department one month before his death. Interred: Hickory Hill Baptist Church Cemetery, Hickory Hill, Missouri.

Cooper County Sheriff Charles Smith was elected sheriff in 1984 after serving nine years for Boonville Police Department. Sheriff Smith spent four tours of duty in Vietnam as a US Army Green Beret. He then served three years at Kemper Military in Boonville, Missouri as a master sergeant and instructor of the Reserve Officer Training Corps. Interred: Okmulgee Cemetery, Okmulgee, Okmulgee County, Oklahoma.

Miller County Deputy Sheriff Sandra Wilson was off-duty but responded to California to provide assistance. She began with Miller County Sheriff's Department as a dispatcher only becoming a deputy sheriff in March 1991. She was survived by her husband, Robert, a son, Jason, and a daughter, Stacy. Interred: Chapel Hill Cemetery, Cedar Hill, Missouri.