Brave officer who was killed while responding to a 911 call had returned to work full time less than 6 months ago after his colleague was murdered

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Officer Christopher Ryan Morton, 30, who was killed while responding to a 911 call in Missouri had just returned to full-time duty to replace recently fallen Officer Gary Michael

A police officer who was killed while responding to a 911 call in Missouri had just returned to full-time duty to replace a recently fallen officer in his department.

Officer Christopher Ryan Morton, 30, was killed in the line of duty Tuesday night shortly after 9pm, according to the Missouri Highway Patrol.

The patrol tweeted Wednesday morning identifying the suspect as James E Waters, 37, from Clinton. 

Morton is the second Clinton police officer in the past year to be killed in the line of duty. 

In August 2017, Officer Gary Michael was killed during a traffic stop. 

Ian McCarthy was arrested after a two day manhunt and pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the shooting death of Michael. 

Morton had returned to full-time duty one month after Michael's death. 

'Clinton, MO, Police Officer Christopher Ryan Morton, served with distinction for the citizens of Clinton as a full-time Police Officer from 2/12/2015 until 1/10/2017,' Missouri State Highway Patrol tweeted.

'He stayed with the department as reserve officer until he returned again to full time duty 9/24/2017. #ClintonPD,' the patrol added. 

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In August 2017, Michael (left) was killed during a traffic stop. Morton (right) had returned to full-time duty one month after Michael's death

According to Missouri Highway Patrol Sgt Bill Lowe, Morton was shot after a 911 call came in from a home (pictured) near downtown Clinton

According to Missouri Highway Patrol Sgt Bill Lowe, Morton was shot after a 911 call came in from a home near downtown Clinton. 

During the call two women were heard screaming in the background, the Kansas City Star reported.

Officers arrived at the home at 9.25pm and were fired on as they entered with the shooter then retreating inside, Lowe said.

Two other officers were wounded in the attack and were taken away from the scene. That's when the Missouri Highway Patrol arrived to help.

The shooter then barricaded himself in the house and the highway patrol SWAT team then stormed the house at 12.10am.

Lowe said it was unclear whether officers killed the suspect or whether he killed himself.

The women in the house at the time were not injured and were taken into custody. 

One of the wounded officers remained hospitalized Wednesday with moderate injuries. The other officer's injuries were minor, the patrol said. 

According to Morton's Facebook page, the officer graduated from Knob Noster High School, he attended the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg and served in the National Guard as well as the US Army.

Morton joined the Army in November 2005 and was twice deployed. He returned in May 2014 from Afghanistan, where he served as a bridge crew member and radio communications manager. He was also honored for his military service at a Kansas City Royals game in 2014

The Kansas City Royals tweeted shortly after learning of Morton's death

Morton, who joined the Army in November 2005 and was twice deployed, returned in May 2014 from Afghanistan, where he served as a bridge crew member and radio communications manager.

The Kansas City Royals tweeted shortly after learning of Morton's death. 

'We are saddened to hear the news regarding Clinton, Mo Police Officer Chris Morton this morning. He was honored for his military service at #TheK in 2014. Our thoughts are with his family today,' the tweet read. 

Morton was seated in the Our Heroes seats, which is now called the Salute to Service seats, on June 5, 2014, at Kauffman Stadium.

MLB pitcher Jeremy Guthrie, who played for the Royals when Morton was honored, also retweeted a photo of them together. 

'Very humbled. RT @johnnykaneKMBC: @TheRealJGuts presented with plaque from U.S. Army soldiers back from Afghanistan,' the tweet read. 

Morton was a full-time Clinton officer from February 2015 through January 2017, when he temporarily became a reserve officer.