Man who allegedly fired shots at two women, arriving officers not found inside home
A man who allegedly fired shots at two women and then at arriving officers Thursday morning was not found inside a Kansas City home that police had surrounded.
Police had arrived at the home in the the 5700 block of East 27th Street about 5 a.m. after the man allegedly shot at two women during a domestic violence-related incident. The man also allegedly shot at police, and an officer returned gunfire, according to Sgt. Jacob Becchina, a spokesman for the Kansas City Police Department.
But when police entered the home shortly after 9 a.m., it was empty and the suspect was not located, Becchina said.
“This happens from time to time where a subject gets out before enough officers surround the house in the initial occurrence,” Becchina said.
Shots fired at officers
Officers initially responded to the area about 5 a.m. on a report of a domestic violence assault, Becchina said.
“The initial report they had gotten was two women were having an argument with a man at a residence there,” Becchina said. “That man had fired shots at them and at their car. They got away and called for police to come help.”
The man confronted officers as they arrived and fired one or more shots toward them. The officers returned fire, Becchina said.
The man then retreated back into the home, Becchina said.
“We don’t believe anybody was struck by gunfire,” he said.
Police said they wanted to talk to the man regarding the aggravated assaults toward the women and officers as well as to make sure the he is safe and uninjured.
Police initiated an Operation 100, which is a tactical response when someone has barricaded themselves inside a structure and refuses to surrender to police, Becchina said.
Negotiators tried to contact the man and have him surrender peacefully, he said.
About 4 hours after the initial call, police entered the home and discovered it was empty. The standoff has ended and police continue to look for the suspect.
While Kansas City police will handle the investigation into the aggravated assault involving the women, the Missouri Highway Patrol will investigate the portion involving the shots fired by the officers.
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 and sponsored in part by Missouri Foundation for Health. As part of this project, The Star will seek the community’s help.
To contribute, visit Report for America online at reportforamerica.org.
This is a breaking news story and this story will be updated as more information becomes available.
This story was originally published June 25, 2020 at 7:32 AM.
