Man killed by police during a shootout after car chase leads to crash in Independence
A man was shot and killed by police after he allegedly fled a traffic stop and fired at an Independence officer Thursday, authorities said.
A police officer with the Independence Police Department attempted a traffic stop around 9:45 p.m. Thursday near East 23rd Street South and South Sterling Avenue. The suspect fled from the officer and drove west on 23rd Street, according to Sgt. Chris Depue, a spokesperson for the Independence Police Department.
As the man drove under an Interstate 435 overpass on 23rd Street, he crashed into another vehicle, Depue said in an email. The man then fled on foot from the crash, running north up the southbound highway off-ramp. As the man was fleeing, he allegedly shot at an officer who was pursuing him on foot, Depue said.
The officer returned fire and struck the suspect. Assisting officers rendered aid to the man until paramedics arrived and pronounced him dead at the scene, Depue said.
The officer who shot the suspect was not injured.
Police have not yet publicly identified the man who was killed.
Who’s investigating the police shooting?
An initial investigation shows that the other vehicle involved in the crash had four occupants who were all taken to a hospital with minor injuries, according to a news release.
Police recovered evidence at the scene, including a firearm near the deceased man, Depue said.
An independent investigative unit, the Police Involved Incident Team (PIIT), has taken over the shooting investigation. The PIIT is comprised of the Lee’s Summit, Blue Springs, Grandview and Independence police departments.
The PIIT will interview all involved persons, process the scene and collect all evidence, Depue said. The team is tasked with conducting an investigation independent of the agency involved in the shooting.
Once the investigation is complete, Depue said, the team’s findings will be reviewed by the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office.
The killing is the 2nd homicide of 2025 in Independence, according to data maintained by The Star, which includes fatal police shootings. At this time last year, Independence had recorded two homicides.
