Mike Swoboda
Encyclopedia
Mike Swoboda was the former mayor of Kirkwood, Missouri
, first elected to the position in 2000 for a term lasting until 2004, and re-elected in 2004 for a term lasting until 2008.
He was wounded on February 7, 2008, when Charles "Cookie" Thornton went on a shooting rampage
at a meeting in the city hall. Swoboda, who was one of the targets of the rampage, was taken to St. John’s Mercy Medical Center in critical condition.
The mayor was shot in the lower jaw, with the bullet exiting from his cheek, and was also shot in the back of his head. He received a surgery on February 7 and a second on February 8, which lasted three hours. On February 13 he opened his eyes, and on the 15th his condition was upgraded to serious.
On February 23, his condition was upgraded to satisfactory.
On September 6, 2008, Mike Swoboda died in hospice after a rapid decline in health status due to the shooting.
According to Swoboda's son, cancer
was also an additional factor that contributed to his father's health decline.
Kirkwood, Missouri
Kirkwood is an inner-ring suburb of St. Louis, located in St. Louis County, Missouri. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,540. Founded in 1853, the city is named for James Pugh Kirkwood, builder of the Pacific Railroad through that town. It was the first planned suburb located west...
, first elected to the position in 2000 for a term lasting until 2004, and re-elected in 2004 for a term lasting until 2008.
He was wounded on February 7, 2008, when Charles "Cookie" Thornton went on a shooting rampage
Kirkwood City Council shooting
The Kirkwood City Council shooting occurred on February 7, 2008, in Kirkwood, Missouri, United States; a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri in St. Louis County. A gunman went on a shooting rampage at a public meeting in the city hall, leaving six people dead and two others injured...
at a meeting in the city hall. Swoboda, who was one of the targets of the rampage, was taken to St. John’s Mercy Medical Center in critical condition.
The mayor was shot in the lower jaw, with the bullet exiting from his cheek, and was also shot in the back of his head. He received a surgery on February 7 and a second on February 8, which lasted three hours. On February 13 he opened his eyes, and on the 15th his condition was upgraded to serious.
On February 23, his condition was upgraded to satisfactory.
On September 6, 2008, Mike Swoboda died in hospice after a rapid decline in health status due to the shooting.
According to Swoboda's son, cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
was also an additional factor that contributed to his father's health decline.