Shortly after 10:45 a.m. on Thursday an officer-involved shooting occurred near Independence Avenue and Hardesty.
According to Sergeant Bill Lowe of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, a RideKC bus driver witnessed a street robbery at a bus stop east of Independence and Hardesty Avenues. The suspect in that robbery boarded the bus as it proceeded westbound on the avenue.
The driver alerted police as to the suspect’s location and slowed the bus in order to facilitate officers intercepting the bus at an upcoming bus stop.
Police arrived at the bus stop at Independence and Hardesty and boarded the bus through a rear entrance. The suspect saw the officer attempting to board and a confrontation ensued between the officer and the suspect, resulting in the suspect shooting the officer.
The suspect then shot the bus driver, exited the bus and engaged officers, firing at them. Officers returned fire, hitting the suspect.
The female bus driver sustained non-life threatening injuries and is expected to be okay. One officer, an 18-year department veteran, sustained minor injuries.
The suspect was transported to an area hospital in critical condition.
The Missouri Highway Patrol will be conducting the investigation, as with all KCPD officer-involved shootings.
We’ll have more information as it becomes available.
