Crime

Man arrested in fatal shooting of WyCo sheriff’s deputy in Kansas City, Kansas

KBI agents were on the scene in the 2600 block of S. 30th Street in Kansas City, Kansas, on Sunday, July 27, 2025, investigating the scene where Wyandotte County Sheriff's deputy Elijah Ming was shot Saturday while responding to a call.
KBI agents were on the scene in the 2600 block of S. 30th Street in Kansas City, Kansas, on Sunday, July 27, 2025, investigating the scene where Wyandotte County Sheriff's deputy Elijah Ming was shot Saturday while responding to a call. tljungblad@kcstar.com

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation has arrested a Kansas City, Kansas, man in the fatal Saturday shooting of a Wyandotte County sheriff’s deputy. The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the arrest.

The shooting, which happened Saturday afternoon in the Argentine neighborhood of KCK, killed 34-year-old Elijah Ming, a nearly nine-year veteran of the sheriff’s office.

Shawn Harris, 38, was arrested Sunday morning and charged with killing a law enforcement officer, moments after he was released from an area hospital where he was treated with non-life threatening injuries from the shootout.

He was booked into the Johnson County jail.

Wyandotte County Sheriff's Deputy Elijah Ming, a nearly nine-year veteran of the Sheriff's Office, died Saturday, July 26, 2025, after being shot while responding to a civil standby call in the Turner area of Kansas City, Kansas. Ming is seen in a photo from the Wyandotte County Sheriff's Office.
Wyandotte County Sheriff's Deputy Elijah Ming, a nearly nine-year veteran of the Sheriff's Office, died Saturday, July 26, 2025, after being shot while responding to a civil standby call in the Turner area of Kansas City, Kansas. Ming is seen in a photo from the Wyandotte County Sheriff's Office. Wyandotte County Sheriff's Office Wyandotte County Sheriff's Office

The KCK shooting

Kansas City, Kansas, Police Chief Karl Oakman said Saturday that the deputy later identified as Ming was in the 2600 block of S. 30th Street in KCK with other law enforcement officers to provide safety while a woman moved out of a house.

Then Harris confronted Ming and they exchanged gunfire, injuring Ming, according to Oakman.

The shooting involving a police deputy and someone inside a house in Kansas City, Kansas, drew a large police response, seen around 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 26.
The shooting involving a police deputy and someone inside a house in Kansas City, Kansas, drew a large police response, seen around 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 26. Kendrick Calfee The Star

Officers from both KCKPD and the Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Office also exchanged gunfire with the suspect, Oakman said, and Harris barricaded himself inside the home. He eventually came out around 5 p.m. after a negotiation, and was taken to the hospital with injuries.

Formal charges are pending, and the KBI is still investigating the shooting.

KBI agents were on the scene in the 2600 block of S. 30th Street in Kansas City, Kansas, on Sunday, July 27, 2025, investigating the scene where Wyandotte County Sheriff's deputy Elijah Ming was shot Saturday while responding to a call.
KBI agents were on the scene in the 2600 block of S. 30th Street in Kansas City, Kansas, on Sunday, July 27, 2025, investigating the scene where Wyandotte County Sheriff's deputy Elijah Ming was shot Saturday while responding to a call. Tammy Ljungblad tljungblad@kcstar.com

Ming was former baseball player, KCK grad

Ming played baseball while he was in high school at F.L. Schlagle in KCK and through college at Fort Scott Community College where he had a 4.50 ERA and helped his team to a 42-18 record. He then continued playing at Wayne State College, according to his on the Wayne State College website..

Elijah Ming’s death is the second recent tragedy in the family. His mother, Sonji Ming, died just less than two weeks before, according to a Facebook post from her husband on July 15.

“He loved his family so much,” a family friend said in a statement on Sunday.

“My life will forever be changed because of Elijah Ming and his love for others.”

This story was originally published July 27, 2025 at 8:34 PM.

Alison Booth
The Kansas City Star
Alison Booth is a former journalist for the Kansas City Star, The Star.
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