By Paul Thompson

Northeast News

November 30, 2016

KANSAS CITY, Missouri – A Kansas City, Missouri police officer shot and killed a suspect in a string of robberies this afternoon in the Historic Northeast after the man attempted to grab a gun during a vehicle stop.

The shooting occurred just after 3:00 p.m. on the afternoon of Wednesday, November 30. Police were looking for a man in connection to a series of robberies in the area when they pulled over a vehicle at the intersection of 8th and Van Brunt. The officer involved in the shooting was wearing plain clothes at the time of the incident.

The vehicle stop was part of a planned response from KCPD personnel, who had obtained pertinent information earlier Wednesday morning. According to police, the wanted individual had stated that he was armed and willing to get into a shootout with officers if there was an attempt to arrest him.

“This individual at first complied with officers as they were attempting to take this individual out of the vehicle, at which time this individual changed their mind and decided to resist,” said Sgt. Kari Thompson of the KCPD Media Unit. “This individual grabbed for a gun, and a Kansas City, Missouri Police Department officer shot this individual. This individual was taken to a local hospital here in Kansas City, and this individual has died.”

No police officers were injured in the incident, and no further information was available about the deceased suspect. Thompson added that KCPD could not provide more information about the nature of the robberies at this time.

Later Wednesday night, Thompson released a statement indicating that the individual reached for a gun that he had on his person. The officer saw the gun and took immediate action, firing his own weapon at the suspect. After firing the shot, the officer provided medical aid at the scene until KCFD personnel arrived.

Thompson also relayed further details about the aftermath of the shooting incident. Officers surrounded a home near the intersection of 9th and Cleveland, drawing six people out of the residence upon initial contact. An Operation 100 eventually called, after verbal attempts to draw the remaining occupants from the home proved unsuccessful. Officers entered the residence, ultimately locating four additional individuals and taking them into custody. Police obtained a search warrant for the residence, and as of roughly 10:00 p.m. on Wednesday night, were conducting an ongoing investigation.

On the morning of Friday, December 2, KCPD confirmed that the deceased suspect has been identified as 25-year-old David K. Crosby-Dowdy.