A second sheriff’s deputy died early Saturday from injuries suffered when an inmate who was being transported in Kansas City overpowered two officers and may have used one of their guns to shoot them.
Kansas City, Kansas, police confirmed on their Facebook page that Deputy Theresa King, 44, died just after midnight following the shooting on Friday. Officer Patrick Rohrer, 35, died earlier.
‘It is very possible that with their own firearm, they were both shot,’ Wyandotte County sheriff’s Maj. Kelli Bailiff said during a news conference Friday at the University of Kansas Hospital.
Kansas City, Kansas, police confirmed on their Facebook page that Deputy Theresa King, 44, died just after midnight following the shooting on Friday. Officer Patrick Rohrer, 35, died earlier
Rohrer had been with the department for seven years and King for 13 years.
Bailiff said the inmate was being taken across the street from the jail, to the services building, for a court hearing.
The inmate was taken in a van to a gated area behind the building, and when he got out of the van, he somehow overpowered and shot the deputies, Bailiff said.
King had been with the department for 13 years while Rohrer had served for 7
‘It is very possible that with their own firearm, they were both shot,’ Wyandotte County sheriff’s Maj. Kelli Bailiff said
Bailiff said investigators do not believe the public is in any danger. Video from the scene showed the courthouse surrounded by yellow police tape, several police vehicles parked in the street and numerous uniformed law enforcement officers walking the grounds.
Wyandotte County sheriff’s spokeswoman Maj Kelli Bailiff said the suspect was wounded in the shooting that took place outside the Wyandotte County courthouse shortly after 11am Friday morning.
The suspect is undergoing surgery. No other details were released about the suspect, including his condition.
An inmate fatally shot one sheriff’s deputy and critically injured another outside a courthouse in Kansas City Friday morning
The deputies, who have not been identified, were transporting inmate to the Wyandotte County courthouse located at 710 N Seventh Street when they were ‘overcome’
Bailiff says it’s possible the deputies were overcome with their own weapons.
‘It is very possible that with their own firearm they were both shot,’ Bailiff during an afternoon press conference.
The deputies, who have not been identified, were transporting the inmate to the Wyandotte County courthouse located at 710 N Seventh Street when the attack occurred.
Moments later, the Wyandotte County sheriff’s deputies were shot by one of the inmates.
Police Chief Terry Zeigler said the shooting occurred in a gated area at the court services building.
Both officers were transported to the University of Kansas Hospital where the surviving female officer remains in critical condition.
Authorities are not looking for any other suspects in connection to the incident.
An aerial photo outside the courthouse showed a fire truck and several patrol cars parked in the front.
Moments later, the Wyandotte County sheriff’s deputies were shot by one of the inmates shortly after 11am
Both officers were transported to the University of Kansas Hospital where the surviving female officer remains in critical condition
Bailiff said the investigation is now being handled by the police department in Kansas City. Police Officer Zac Blair said authorities are reviewing surveillance video. Pictured is the Wyandotte County courthouse
It also appeared that the police blocked off a street near the courthouse with a barricade.
Bailiff said the investigation is now being handled by the police department in Kansas City.
Police Officer Zac Blair said authorities are reviewing surveillance video.
Details of what led to the shooting have not been released.
Several law enforcement departments offered words of support and prayers for Wyandotte County on social media
The Olathe Police Department, Raymore Police Department in Missouri and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Officer in Missouri tweeted similar heartfelt messages
The Fraternal Order of Police in Kansas City, Kansas, said in a statement: ‘We are praying for our friends at the Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Officer, their families, friends and our entire blue family. We are here for you all.’
Gov Jeff Colyer was briefed on the incident as he arrived to a congressional forum hosted by the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce.
He held a moment of silence for the deputies after he finished his speech at the event.
Several law enforcement departments offered words of support and prayers for Wyandotte County on social media.
‘Our thoughts and prayers go out to our brothers and sisters in Wyandotte County. We are standing with you,’ the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office tweeted.
The Olathe Police Department, Raymore Police Department in Missouri and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Officer in Missouri tweeted similar heartfelt messages.
‘Our hearts break for our brothers and sisters at Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Office as well as for the loved ones of the deputies shot today, one of whom has died. Our thoughts are with you in the difficult days ahead!’ the Kansas Highway Patrol wrote on Facebook.
Kansas City, Kansas has dealt with other officer shootings in the recent years.
Two Kansas City officers were shot and killed within less than three months in 2016. Capt. Robert Melton was slain in July while searching for a suspect in a drive-by shooting. Melton was part of the police honor guard for Det. Brad Lancaster, who was fatally shot earlier in 2016 near the Kansas Speedway.
In 2015, Wyandotte County Deputy Scott Wood was shot seven times but survived.