KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The suspect in Wednesday’s deadly officer-involved shooting had a warrant out for his arrest in a Grain Valley burglary, the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed Thursday.
Independence Ofc. Blaize Madrid-Evans, 22, was shot and killed while responding to a call Wednesday afternoon.
The suspected shooter, identified as 33-year-old Cody Harrison of Gladstone, Missouri, was shot and killed by a second officer at the scene.
Harrison had been in and out of jail over the course of the last decade.
In 2011, he was charged and convicted for shooting in Gladstone, when he fired at a car while someone was driving it. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison but got out early.
He was out on the streets in 2020.
Thursday, the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed to KSHB 41 News that Harrison was out of jail but had an active warrant out for his arrest when the shooting occurred.
The warrant was issued Monday after Harrison failed to appear in court for a 2020 Grain Valley case. In November 2020, Harrison was arrested for second-degree burglary and stealing. The prosecutor's office got the case in Feb. 2021.
The prosecutor’s office said they requested a $10,000 bond, but the court reduced it to $6,000 and then eventually to a ROR bond, or “release on recognizance.”
The office pushed back on speculations it had declined to file or prosecute a case against Harrison before the shooting.
On Sept. 2, KCPD picked him up for having a gun as a previously-convicted felon.
The prosecutor's office said by the time they received the case for review on Sept. 9, Harrison had already been out of custody for days.
KCPD confirmed to KSHB 41 News later Thursday they released Harrison after booking him for having a handgun, pending further investigation.
The department sent the case to the prosecutor's office on Sept. 7, KCPD said. The prosecutor's office said the case was under review for charging after it was submitted two days later.
KCPD issued the following statement Thursday:
"Yesterday was a tragic and violent act committed by Cody Harrison. We along with our community wish that he had not made this heinous choice. This loss is felt throughout our entire community as there is one less hero who will be serving and protecting the City Of Independence. Our thoughts and condolences continue to be with the family of Officer Blaize Madrid-Evans, the Independence Police Department and with the entire community."
Lindsay Worden, who knew Harrison, told KSHB 41 News she'd met him four or five times because he was friends with her brother.
"I was shocked to find out that it was him honestly, 'cause I didn't know he had a gun," Worden said.
Worden's brother was staying at the house near South Northern and East 24th Streets, where the shooting took place. Harrison was also crashing there.
KSHB 41 News talked to the landlord, Steve Hauser, on Wednesday, who said his tenant was not at the house because she was in jail on a separate case. Hauser said no one else was supposed to be living at the house.
Worden said she can't understand what caused Harrison to shoot but speculates he probably wasn't thinking at all.
"His life was just falling apart and it was a bad time in his life," Worden said. "And he didn't care about obviously his own life, I guess."
Worden said this should not have been the outcome.
"I didn't know the cop but I feel terrible for his family, his mom and dad, 'cause I could not imagine burying my kid," Worden said. "That would be terrible."
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