Kansas City police shoot suspect who allegedly fired at officers during traffic stop
Kansas City police shot and injured a male suspect who had fired at officers during a traffic stop Tuesday night, according to police.
The shooting happened around 6:15 p.m.
Police said officers tried to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation near 34th Street and Brooklyn Avenue, but it drove a short distance and crashed at 34th Street and Garfield Avenue.
A suspect in the vehicle fled from two officers. During the chase, the suspect turned and allegedly fired shots at the officers with a handgun. The officers returned gunfire, hitting the suspect at least once near the ankle.
The suspect was taken into custody a short time later. He was taken to a hospital in serious but stable condition.
No other injuries were reported.
Officer Darin Snapp, a police spokesman, said police found a gun but continued to look for shell casings at the scene. He said weather conditions Tuesday night would make it difficult to search for evidence.
Police have not specified the traffic violation that prompted police to pull the suspect over.
“I haven’t talked to the officers to find out exactly what the violation was, but it was just a simple traffic violation, which a lot of people say those aren’t routine anymore,” Snapp said. “People used to refer to traffic stops as routine. You go up, issue a ticket and leave, and now, with so many guns out on the streets, nothing is routine anymore.”
The investigation was ongoing.
Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-8477.
This story was originally published January 22, 2019 at 7:04 PM.
