Topeka Police officer hit by gunfire in shootout with murder suspect in Downtown Topeka

At the request of the Topeka Police Department (TPD) and the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office (SSO), the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating an officer-involved shooting involving a homicide suspect that involved both agencies Thursday morning in Downtown Topeka.

Early Thursday morning, officers responded to the 3500 block of SW Kerry Avenue on a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers located one individual deceased at the scene and one other individual injured.

The identity of the deceased is being withheld until next of kin notifications can take place. Investigators with TPD quickly identified the suspect and began working to locate them. The relationship between the suspect and the homicide victim was domestic in nature.

A TPD officer observed the suspect vehicle near Topeka’s Hi-Crest Neighborhood. The suspect initiated the pursuit, which ended in downtown Topeka near SW 6th Avenue and South Kansas Avenue. Multiple agencies responded to the scene, including SSO.

The suspect shot several times at law enforcement officers on scene. Multiple law enforcement officers returned fire. At least one officer was struck by the suspect’s gunfire during this incident. The officer is receiving medical treatment at a local hospital.

The Topeka Police Department and Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office will conduct a joint media press conference at SE 6th and SE Quincy at 3:00 p.m. There will also be a Facebook Live on both agencies’ social media sites.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to email telltpd@topeka.org or contact the Topeka Police Criminal Investigation Bureau at 785-368-9400. Anonymous tips can be made by calling Shawnee County Crime Stoppers at 785-234-0007. You can also make anonymous tips online at www.p3tips.com/128.

All persons charged with a criminal offense are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.