INDEPENDENCE, Mo. – Police officers in Independence, Missouri, shot and killed a man after responding to a report of an armed disturbance at a residence late Thursday afternoon.
According to Officer Jack Taylor, a department spokesman, the officers were dispatched to the 700 block of North Frandsen Road around 4:40 p.m. after receiving reports of gunshots and a person outside a residence.
When the officers arrived, they encountered a man at the front door entryway and gave commands that were heard by witnesses. The man was then shot and killed by two of the officers. After pulling the man into the driveway, officers provided medical aid, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
A firearm and a fanny pack containing ammunition were found near the man. The police have identified the person shot as an adult male, but many details, including whether the man was armed at the time of the shooting, are still under investigation.
A team of detectives from departments in eastern Jackson County, referred to as the Police Involved Incident Team, is investigating the use of deadly force and collecting witness statements and evidence, including dashcam footage.
It was also noted that Independence police officers do not have body-worn cameras, and the department’s policy does not involve them in the investigation of shootings involving their officers. Both officers who discharged their weapons were placed on administrative leave while the investigation is ongoing.
The incident has raised questions about the use of deadly force by the police, especially in the absence of body-worn cameras and the department’s policy on not investigating shootings involving their officers. The community will be closely watching the investigation’s progress and the authorities’ response to this tragedy.