Former St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officer Nathaniel Hendren was convicted in connection with the January 24, 2019 fatal shooting of fellow St. Louis officer Katlyn Alix. The case centered on a deadly gun-handling incident at Hendren’s home while Hendren was supposed to be on duty and Alix was off duty, according to reporting from CBS News/AP and The Washington Post.
Reported Facts
Alix, 24, was a St. Louis police officer and military veteran. Reports state that she was off duty when she went to Hendren’s home in the Carondelet area of St. Louis during the early morning hours of January 24, 2019. Hendren and another St. Louis officer were reportedly on duty but were at the home instead of out on patrol.
According to a probable cause statement described by multiple outlets, Hendren and Alix handled a revolver after Hendren allegedly emptied the cylinder, placed one cartridge back inside, spun the cylinder, and pulled the trigger. The gun did not fire at first. Alix then reportedly took the revolver, pointed it at Hendren, and pulled the trigger; it did not fire. Hendren then took the gun back, pointed it at Alix, and pulled the trigger. The revolver discharged, striking Alix in the chest. She was taken to a hospital, where she died.
A third officer who was present reportedly told investigators that he warned Hendren and Alix that they were police officers and should not be playing with guns, then heard the fatal shot as he was leaving the room.
Allegations and Charges
Prosecutors charged Hendren with first-degree involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action. At the charging stage, those were allegations, not convictions. Reporting from ABC News and the Associated Press described the case as a Russian-roulette-style shooting involving a revolver loaded with one round.
The Associated Press also reported that an internal police misconduct report accused Hendren and officer Patrick Riordan of drinking on duty at the time of Alix’s death and accused Hendren of recklessly discharging a firearm resulting in another officer’s death. Riordan was not criminally charged in the fatal shooting, according to AP reporting.
Conviction and Sentence
On February 28, 2020, Hendren pleaded guilty to first-degree involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action. He was sentenced to seven years in prison for involuntary manslaughter and three years for armed criminal action, with the sentences to run concurrently, according to CBS News/AP.
CBS News/AP reported that Hendren left the St. Louis police department soon after the shooting and that his state peace officer license was suspended.
Lawsuits and Civil Claims
Alix’s mother filed a wrongful-death lawsuit in 2019. The lawsuit named Hendren, Riordan, a police sergeant, and the City of St. Louis, according to KSDK. The lawsuit also made additional civil allegations about Hendren’s prior behavior and mental-health history; those claims should be treated as allegations from a civil complaint, not criminal findings.
In 2021, a judge removed the City of St. Louis from the lawsuit, finding that Hendren’s actions were personal and outside the scope of his police duties, according to the Associated Press.
Official Statements
Then-St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner said the reckless conduct left a lasting void for Alix’s family, according to CBS News/AP. The Washington Post reported that St. Louis police initially described the shooting as accidental before prosecutors filed charges based on the probable cause statement.
Current Status
In January 2025, First Alert 4 reported that Hendren had served four years and was released on parole in October 2024. The same report stated that his attorney declined official comment and that there was no confirmed basis at that time to say Hendren had violated the parole conditions discussed in the story.
Uncorroborated Claims
This story does not include uncorroborated claims as facts. Civil-lawsuit allegations are identified as allegations, and criminal case facts are separated from reported facts, official statements, and court outcomes.
