Johnson County jury finds KCK man guilty of shooting police officer in 2020
A Johnson County jury found a Kansas City, Kansas, man guilty Wednesday of shooting a KCK police officer in 2020.
Jesse James Flaugher, 37, was charged in December 2020 with attempted capital murder and firearm possession by a felon. Jurors found Flaugher guilty of attempted second-degree murder.
Flaugher was convicted of shooting KCK police officer Daniel Vance in the chest and forearm as Vance pursued him following a hit-and-run wreck in Overland Park on December 15, 2020.
The shooting took place at 4 p.m., after Vance chased Flaugher in his car to County Line Road and Conser Street following the crash. Flaugher stopped his car, reportedly to avoid crossing from Wyandotte County into Johnson County, then allegedly got out and started shooting at Vance, hitting him twice, according to KCKPD spokesperson Nancy Chartrand.
Vance returned fire, according to a 2020 press release from the Office of the District Attorney, but Flaugher was not injured. Vance made a full recovery from his injuries.
Flaugher then fled in his car, which was found later in Johnson County. He was arrested in rural Miami County on December 21, 2020, and initially held on a $1 million bond.
The trial started on October 8, according to court records. Jurors returned a guilty verdict around 11:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Flaugher was previously charged with aggravated assault in Oklahoma, according to court documents.
A sentencing hearing for Flaugher will be held on January 9, 2025, at 2:30 p.m.
Previous reporting by Cortlynn Stark and Katie Bernard was used in this article.
