KCK police chase ends with carjacking suspect shot by KCPD in parking garage by city hall

A police chase that began in Kansas City, Kan., ended across the state line after a Kansas City police officer shot and critically injured a carjacking suspect who was hiding in a parking garage next to city hall.

The suspects were thought to be armed. Officers gave the suspects several commands to drop the weapon, said police Capt. Stacey Graves. The officer fired when the suspect refused.

Witnesses reported hearing several gunshots come parking garage.

It began as a reported armed carjacking at a car wash in Kansas City, Kan., around 10:17 a.m. The chase started at 11th and Minnesota Avenue in Kansas City, Kan.

The chase terminated shortly before 1 p.m. at 11th and Oak streets, where those in the car ran to the garage. Kansas City, Kan., police immediately arrested two of the men. Kansas City police arrested a third inside the parking garage.

The fourth suspect ran through the garage, where he was confronted by officers on the third or fourth floor. Not long after, shots were fired.

Police recovered a shotgun and handgun from the parking garage, Graves said.

“We don’t have all of the details because it is still fresh on the scene,” she said. “The statement from the shooting officer has not been taken yet; a lot of those details are just unknown at this time.

“But what I do know is the officer confronted the suspect. The suspect refused all commands and shots were fired. That officer felt that either his life or another officer’s life was in danger,” Graves said.

After the shooting, police conducted a roll call to make sure all officers were safe. Chief Rick Smith said he went to the scene to make sure none of his officers were injured. Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker also arrived on the scene and talked with the police officers.

Kansas City, Kan., police officers witnessed the shooting and police had located another witness as well.

No other injuries were reported. The officer who shot the suspect was immediately placed on administrative, which is standard police department policy.

“Whenever we have evolving situation like this, where these are suspects who are fleeing and (police) cars pursuing them with lights and sirens and you know they are armed,” Graves said. “That is a very dangerous situation in of itself because they are disregarding the law. … You don’t know if the suspect, when you confront them, what their reaction is going to be. You hope for a peaceful resolution. You want someone to surrender, give up.”

Police blocked exits of the garage and conducted a sweep through the entire garage.

Public access to the garage was shut off, and police were preventing traffic from heading to that area of downtown. The parking garage will be closed for several hours while police gather evidence, police said Monday afternoon.

This story was originally published December 11, 2017 at 1:13 PM with the headline "KCK police chase ends with carjacking suspect shot by KCPD in parking garage by city hall."