Man fatally shot by Olathe police was from Texas
A man fatally shot by Olathe police Sunday night was identified Tuesday as a 50-year-old Texas man.
Walter R. Echols, of Cypress, Texas, was killed during an altercation with officers outside of a Wal-Mart near Santa Fe Street and Kansas 7.
Police said that he was wielding a “blunt object” and that officers attempted to subdue him with less lethal means before shots were fired.
At least one officer was struck by the object during the incident but was not seriously injured.
A witness told The Star that the man was running in the direction of the store entrance and customers when he was shot.
The incident is being investigated by a team of investigators from multiple Johnson County police agencies.
The officers involved in the shooting have been placed on paid administrative leave.
Tony Rizzo: 816-234-4435, @trizzkc
This story was originally published November 29, 2016 at 3:34 PM with the headline "Man fatally shot by Olathe police was from Texas."