ST. LOUIS (AP) — A man who authorities say had a violent criminal history in North Carolina is charged with first-degree murder and other crimes in the shooting death of a Missouri police officer.

Officer Michael Langsdorf of the North County Police Cooperative was killed Sunday afternoon in the St. Louis suburb of Wellston after responding to a call about someone trying to pass a bad check at a small market. Langsdorf was a 40-year-old father of two.

Authorities on Monday announced that 26-year-old Bonette Kymbrelle Meeks has been charged in the officer’s death. Meeks is jailed without bond.

ST. LOUIS  —  Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal  shooting that killed a Missouri police officer at a food market near St. Louis.

Officer Michael Langsdorf responded to a call Sunday afternoon about a bad check at a food market in Wellston, according to a media release from the North County Police Cooperative.

Just after arriving, the person attempting to cash the check shot Langsdorf. He was later pronounced dead. The suspect is in custody and a  firearm was recovered.

Langsdorf, 40, had been employed by the North County Police Cooperative since April 2019, according to the release.  He had 17 years of prior police experience with the St. Louis Police Department.

Langsdorf leaves behind two children, a fiancé, parents and an enormous amount of friends and family.

The North County Police Cooperative serves seven communities in the northern St. Louis county.