CLAY COUNTY, Mo. — A standoff at the Crow’s Creek Campground at Smithville Lake ended in tragedy on October 30 when Paul Clifford Buchholz, 61, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after hours of negotiation with Clay County deputies. The incident followed an escalating series of events, beginning with a road rage altercation in Excelsior Springs in September when Buchholz reportedly fired shots at another driver.
On September 13, a minor collision (clipped mirrors) in the Walmart parking lot in Excelsior Springs led to Buchholz, a transient who had been staying in the area, chasing the other driver northbound on Highway 69. As the two vehicles approached the Excelsior Springs Animal Clinic, Buchholz allegedly fired multiple shots from a 9mm pistol into the other vehicle. Although the victim’s car sustained damage, the driver was unharmed. After fleeing the scene, Buchholz was tracked by License Plate Reader (LPR) cameras and apprehended by local law enforcement near Watkins Mill State Park. Police recovered the firearm, and Buchholz confessed to the shooting.
Charged with two felonies—Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Armed Criminal Action—Buchholz was placed on house arrest with a GPS monitor and was due to appear in court on October 29. However, he failed to attend his hearing, prompting a warrant for his arrest. The following morning, deputies were alerted to Buchholz’s location at the Crow’s Creek Campground after his GPS monitoring company notified authorities of his whereabouts, explaining that Buchholz was armed and possibly suicidal.
Clay County Sheriff’s deputies and a Negotiation Team arrived at the campground and attempted to persuade Buchholz to surrender peacefully. Negotiators spent the morning urging him to leave his camper and disarm, but he resisted, stating he had “warrants and didn’t want to go to jail.” After nearly five hours, at around 1:30 p.m., Buchholz took his own life.
The tragic outcome of Buchholz’s standoff serves as a sad reminder of the critical need for mental health awareness and support both locally and more broadly. Sarah Boyd, communications officer for the Clay County Sheriff’s Department, expressed sorrow over the outcome. “In cases like this, we want to remind people that no matter how bleak the circumstances, there is always help and hope,” she said. She encouraged anyone struggling with mental health issues to reach out to the National Suicide Hotline by dialing 988 for mental health support.
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