Man shot by KCPD officer Thursday night dies from injuries. Officer placed on leave
The man shot Thursday night by a Kansas City police officer following an attempted traffic stop died from his injuries Friday.
The officer is now on leave for psychological evaluation and the initial investigation of the shooting, said Kansas City Police Department spokesman Sgt. Jacob Becchina in an email.
Donnie Sanders, 47, was fatally shot just after 11:15 p.m. Friday night, police said.
According to police an officer attempted to pull Sanders over near 51st Street and Prospect Avenue. He eventually came to a stop between Prospect and Wabash avenues before allegedly running from his vehicle, police said.
Sanders then turned toward an officer at 52nd Street and raised his arm “in a motion towards the officer as though he had a weapon,” Becchina said.
In response, police said, the officer ordered Sanders to drop his weapon and fired at him when he did not comply.
Officers gave Sanders first aid before he was transferred to the hospital where he later died, police said.
“This tragedy is something no officer ever wants to happen, and the Kansas City Missouri Police Department understands the pain a sudden loss of life can cause,” Becchina said in a statement.
Police said an officer has been assigned to work with Sanders’ family during the initial investigation and that a social service worker will be sent to offer assistance.
Police are asking anyone who saw anything to call the department’s homicide unit at 816-234-5043.
This is the 36th homicide in Kansas City according to data kept by The Star which includes fatal police shootings. There had been 25 by this time last year.
This story was originally published March 13, 2020 at 1:51 PM.
