Man is fatally shot by police officers in Kansas City

Kansas City police were investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting Sunday afternoon near 34th Street and Prospect Avenue.

The shooting occurred shortly after 12:30 p.m. when police confronted a man with a handgun who was in an argument with a female.

The incident began when officers were called to a gas station at 35th Street and Prospect, where a witness reported the argument and said the man was brandishing a handgun in public, said Officer Darin Snapp, a Kansas City Police Department spokesman.

When police arrived, the female told officers the man had assaulted her. The man ran north on Prospect and turned east on 34th Street, Snapp said.

Two police officers pursued, one on foot and another in a vehicle.

As the officers neared, the man dropped a handgun on the ground, Snapp said. When the man picked it up and pointed it at the officers, both officers shot at the man, fatally injuring him.

The officers rendered medical aid to the man until he was taken to a hospital, Snapp said, where the man was pronounced dead.

Police described the man as being in his 30s, but have not released his name.

The officers were not injured.

A woman at the scene who identified herself as a relative said the man’s name was Danata’e Franklin and that he was 28 years old.

Kathryn Terry, who said she was Franklin’s aunt, said Franklin lived in Leavenworth and was in Kansas City Sunday visiting relatives.

She said Franklin worked in Leavenworth and had been doing well recently. He had five siblings.

“He was fun,” Terry said. “He was well-loved.”

Police continued to investigate the shooting Sunday afternoon.

The officers have been placed on administrative leave, as is routine in such cases.

Police said several people may have witnessed the incident but didn’t stay to talk with detectives.

Police asked any witnesses to contact detectives at 816.234.5043 or if they wish to remain anonymous call the TIPS Hotline at 816.474.8477.

This story was originally published August 6, 2017 at 1:08 PM with the headline "Man is fatally shot by police officers in Kansas City."