Police ID man fatally shot by Independence officer after high-speed pursuit into KC
Police have identified a man shot and killed by an Independence police officer Tuesday as William C. Shimp.
Shimp, 34, was a suspect in a commercial burglary Tuesday night in Independence, police said. An officer responded and a high-speed chase ensued.
The seven-mile pursuit crossed into Kansas City at speeds up to 92 mph, according to a recording of police radio traffic.
The chase ended near Ninth Street and Monroe Avenue in Kansas City, where Shimp allegedly fled from his car, according to police. Then the Independence officer shot him.
Kansas City police, who are investigating the shooting, said Shimp was armed with a gun. There is video of the incident but it will take time to review, Capt. David Jackson, a Kansas City Police Department spokesman, said in an email.
The incident began shortly before 10 p.m. when the officer, who has not been identified by police, responded to a burglary in progress at a business in the 900 block of South Crysler Avenue in Independence.
Shimp fled in a silver and burgundy Pontiac Grand Prix and eventually found his way to U.S. 24, police said. He then fled west on U.S. 24 highway in Independence and across Independence Avenue in Kansas City, according to the recording from Broadcastify.com.
As the chase progressed, officers reported the fleeing car hit high speeds: 85 mph as it passed through South Arlington Street in Independence; 70 mph at South Brookside Avenue in Independence; 92 mph at Manchester Avenue in Kansas City and 90 mph at Bennington Avenue, also in Kansas City.
Officers reported that traffic was light and yielding, according to the recording.
During the chase, Independence officers asked for assistance from Kansas City police and Jackson County sheriff’s deputies, to see if they could use spike strips to deflate the car’s tires.
“If Kansas City or county can stick it, we’ll take assistance,” an Independence officer said.
A Kansas City police supervisor inquired whether the department’s helicopter was available to follow the pursuit. The helicopter, however was not available.
At Monroe, the car headed south. It then turned west onto Ninth Street.
Moments later, an officer advised “shots fired.” An Independence officer shot and killed the fleeing man.
“We are going to have a confirmed (fatality) here,” an officer advised over the radio. “We are doing CPR, but I do believe it is going to be confirmed at this time.”
Gun violence will be the subject of a new, statewide journalism project The Star is undertaking in Missouri this year in partnership with the national service program Report for America. As part of this project, The Star will seek the community’s help.
To contribute, visit Report for America online at reportforamerica.org.
The Star’s Robert A. Cronkleton and Cortlynn Stark contributed to this story.
This story was originally published May 7, 2020 at 10:00 AM.
