Authorities identify man killed in exchange of gunfire with Independence police officer
The Independence Police Department identified a man who was killed in a police shooting on Thursday.
Daniel J. Bonnet, 27, was killed in an exchange of gunfire with an Independence police officer, said Sgt. Chris Depue, a spokesman with the Independence Police Department.
An officer attempted a traffic stop around 9:45 p.m. Thursday near East 23rd Street South and South Sterling Avenue. The suspect, later identified by police as Bonnet, allegedly fled from the officer and drove west on 23rd Street, Depue said.
As Bonnet drove under an Interstate 435 overpass, he crashed into another vehicle, Depue said in an email. Bonnet then allegedly fled on foot from the crash, running north up the southbound highway off-ramp. As he 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 Bonnet until paramedics arrived and pronounced him dead at the scene, Depue said.
The officer who shot the suspect was not injured.
Depue said the Police Involved Incident Team (PIIT) is investigating the shooting. The team is comprised of members of the Lee’s Summit, Blue Springs, Grandview and Independence police departments.
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 second 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.
