While assisting with a car crash on the side of the highway, St. Louis Metropolitan Police Officer David Lee was struck by a vehicle driven by an illegal alien and killed.
Officer David Lee, killed in the line of duty yesterday in St. Louis by an illegal immigrant. Enough is enough. CLOSE THE BORDER pic.twitter.com/NjgiZGel8a
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) September 23, 2024
The 44-year-old police officer, who had been on the force for 18 years, was assisting in a single-car crash involving an off-duty Ferguson firefighter, which occurred around 8:30 a.m. on Sunday in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 70. According to St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Chief Robert Tracy, Lee was behind his patrol car grabbing traffic cones to set up around the original crash when the illegal alien driver lost control of his vehicle, spun out, and crashed into the officer, killing him.
St Louis Mayor and Police Chief lay flowers on the car of officer David Lee. Officer Lee was an 18 year veteran and was kiIIed when an illegal hit him while speeding and driving under the influence, without a valid driver’s license.
Officer Lee leaves behind a wife and 2… pic.twitter.com/g4ktkiue4O
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) September 23, 2024
The off-duty St. Louis firefighter who was involved in the original crash immediately rushed to help Lee and radioed for help.
“Risking her own life, the off-duty Ferguson firefighter, rushed to help officer Lee, she got on his radio asking for help and an officer in need of aid call was dispatched,” Tracy said.
The driver has since been identified as 24-year-old illegal alien Ramon A. Chavez-Rodriguez, who was drunk at the time of the crash. The Honduran illegal alien was reportedly driving at least 71mph on the road, which had a posted speed limit of 55mph, when he struck Lee and pinned him between two vehicles before throwing him several feet. While Chavez-Rodriguez claimed to have lost control of his vehicle because of the rainy conditions, his blood alcohol level at the hospital two hours after the crash was still 0.10, which means that it was much higher when he killed Lee.
Chavez-Rodriguez has been charged with DWI, death of law enforcement or emergency personnel, exceeding the posted speed limit, and operating a vehicle on a highway without a valid license.
At the time of the crash, the illegal alien was already on probation for domestic assault charges and another DWI in St. Charles County.
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey spoke out about Lee’s entirely preventable death, noting that the Democrats’ open-border policies directly caused this.
“My heart breaks for the family, friends, and colleagues of St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Officer David Lee, who was tragically killed by an individual who was in this country illegally,” Bailey wrote in a post on X. “This devastating loss serves as a harsh reminder of the real consequences of a broken system that fails to protect our communities. I am praying for Officer Lee’s family, friends, and the entire police department during this unimaginable time. We must honor his service by ensuring justice and security for all.”
My heart breaks for the family, friends, and colleagues of St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Officer David Lee, who was tragically killed by an individual who was in this country illegally.
This devastating loss serves as a harsh reminder of the real consequences of a…
— Andrew Bailey (@AndrewBaileyMO) September 23, 2024
Meanwhile, Lee’s family spoke to local news station KSDK about his death, telling reporters that Lee was a devoted father, husband, and police officer.
“I’m gonna miss him dearly, because he was the yin to my yang, my best friend,” his wife, Tonya, told the news station. “He was my partner, my other half. One half of my heart, and I’m the other half of his heart.”
The officer’s son, Khalil, told the media that his father loved his family, his job, and basketball.
“He was somebody who I could talk to about anything,” Khalil explained. “He’s the reason why I chose to go to school for criminal justice and do what I’m doing now.”
Tonya also told KSDK that the night before her husband was killed, while they were doing their nightly prayers and laying in bed together, he said something she would never forget.
“It was weird,” she told the news station. “He laid beside me in the bed, and he put his hand on my thigh, and he said, ‘Thank you for everything.’ And I said, ‘Oh, Bae, thank you for everything.’ He said, ‘No, seriously, thank you for everything.’ And I didn’t know this was my husband saying bye to me.”
