Man shot by Kansas City officer wasn’t armed. It’s renewing call for body cams
A man fatally shot by Kansas City police Thursday night was not armed, the Kansas City Police Department said Friday.
The man was identified as Donnie Sanders, 47.
After processing the scene, police determined that Sanders did not have a firearm or weapon, said Sgt. Jacob Becchina, a spokesman for the Kansas City Police Department.
An officer attempted to pull Sanders over at about 11:15 p.m. Thursday near 51st and Prospect. He eventually came to a stop between Prospect and Wabash avenues before allegedly running from the vehicle, police said.
Sanders then turned toward an officer and raised his arm “in a motion towards the officer as though he had a weapon,” Becchina said.
The officer ordered Sanders to drop the weapon and fired at him when he did not comply, police said.
Sanders was transported to a hospital where he died.
The officer was placed on leave.
Damon Daniel, president of AdHoc Group Against Crime, said the full details of what happened will likely never be known.
“As a community I think it’s time that we start the conversation on what the status is on body cams as well as the deescalation trainings that were occurring four or five years ago,” Daniel said.
Kansas City has recorded 36 homicides this year, according to data maintained by The Star. That includes four fatal police shootings.
On Jan. 30, police shot a man who was allegedly high on drugs and had pointed a gun at officers.
A man carrying a rifle on Feb. 7 was shot by police near East 8th Street and Gladstone Avenue.
On Feb. 26, an FBI agent shot a man while serving an arrest warrant.
