Jackson County sheriff’s deputy shoots suspect after vehicle pursuit in Independence

A Jackson County sheriff’s deputy shot a suspect after a vehicle pursuit Tuesday morning in Independence, according to police.

Independence police were investigating the shooting about 7:30 a.m. near 39th Street and Woodland Avenue.

Jackson County Sheriff Darryl Forte also responded to the scene and said the deputy suffered a minor injury to his hand, but no other injuries to law enforcement officers were reported.

The shooting occurred after a Jackson County deputy pursued a suspect into Independence about 7:15 a.m., according to Officer John Syme, an Independence police spokesman.

The pursuit ended at 39th and Woodland, where the deputy shot the suspect. Police said they had not yet determined what led up to the shooting.

Sheriff Forte said a gun was recovered from the suspect’s vehicle. The sheriff’s office was the only agency involved in the chase, police said.

Forte said he asked the Independence Police Department to handle the investigation of the shooting, a practice he intends to continue.

“I’ll ask outside agencies to assist in or investigate future deputy involved shootings,” Forte wrote in a message on Twitter.

As the investigation began Tuesday, Independence police did not say how seriously the suspect was injured. The suspect was taken to a hospital.

Police did not say how many people were in the vehicle being pursued by the deputy.

Syme, the Independence police spokesman, said the Police Department was prepared to handle the investigation because it is the larger agency of the two and has a larger criminal investigation division.

This story was originally published October 30, 2018 at 8:10 AM.