KCK police fatally shot man holding ‘metal object’; spoon found near his body
A 27-year-old man died after he was shot by a Kansas City, Kansas, police officer during a struggle outside an apartment early Thursday morning, according to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.
Police said the man ran toward them holding a “metal object.” A metal spoon was found near his body after the shooting, the KBI said in a news release.
The man was identified as Jesse Fitzgeral of Kansas City, Kansas, the KBI said.
A woman called 911 about 5 a.m. Thursday requesting assistance with a disturbance involving her son in their apartment at the Concord Square Apartments in the 1400 block of North 78th Place in Kansas City, Kansas.
Officers met with the woman and then spotted Fitzgeral outside the apartment in an SUV. Officers tried to question him, but he drove off, according to the KBI.
At about 6 a.m., the woman called 911 again requesting officers. Two officers responded and when they arrived they saw the SUV from earlier. The vehicle’s engine was running, but it was unoccupied, the KBI said.
When the officers went to the door to check on the caller, Fitzgeral allegedly ran out of the apartment towards the officers holding a “metal object.” During a brief struggle, one of the officers fired, striking Fitzgeral, the KBI said.
Life-saving measures were attempted, but Fitzgeral died from his injuries. Neither of the officers was injured. The KBI said a metal spoon was found near Fitzgeral.
Although the shooting occurred around 6 a.m., information that a Kansas City, Kansas, police officer was involved in a deadly shooting was not released until more than 8 hours later at 2:40 p.m.
The killing is the city’s 10th homicide of the year, according to data tracked by The Star, which includes fatal police shootings. That compares to eight homicides by this time last year.
Anyone with information about the homicide is asked to call the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS (8477)
