Armed man shot by Leavenworth police is hospitalized with critical injuries, KBI says
An investigation is underway after police shot and injured an armed man early Sunday morning in Leavenworth, according to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.
The shooting occurred as police were looking for a suspect in a stabbing investigation in Lansing, Chief Patrick Kitchens said in a news release.
Officers found the suspect, who they said was armed with a handgun, in the middle of the intersection of North 5th and Seneca streets at about 5 a.m. A brief standoff followed, Kitchens said.
Officers from other departments arrived and tried to negotiate with the man, later identified by the KBI as Donald Barden Jr., 31, of Leavenworth. Officers tried to get him to drop his weapon, but he ignored their commands, the KBI said.
Barden “waved” the gun around and made suicidal statements, the state agency said in a news release. About 6:20 a.m., he ran at officers “while pointing his gun in their direction,” the KBI said.
A Leavenworth police officer, as well as an officer with the Lansing Police Department, shot at Barden, striking him, according to the KBI. Another Leavenworth officer at the same time fired bean bag rounds at him.
Barden was taken to KU Medical Center in Kansas City with critical injuries, Kitchens said.
No officers were injured.
The KBI was asked to investigate the shooting. Once its investigation is complete, the KBI will send its findings to the Leavenworth County Attorney’s Office.
The Star’s Luke Nozicka contributed to this report.
This story was originally published February 13, 2022 at 10:05 AM.
