KANSAS CITY, Mo. — An Excelsior Springs Police Department officer as well as a suspect were injured in a shooting Saturday.
Around 5 p.m., two Excelsior Springs officers recognized a suspect — who was known to have a warrant out for allegedly assaulting a law enforcement officer — in a vehicle in the parking lot of Price Chopper near Crown Hill and Kearney roads.
When the officers attempted to stop the suspect, he drove away onto Kearney Road.
Both officers then followed the man and attempted to box him in at the traffic light with one vehicle directly in front of the suspect and one vehicle directly behind.
The suspect then shot at the officer in the front, striking their shoulder and wrist. In response, the officer from behind shot at the suspect, striking him in the head, according to a spokesperson for the Clay County Sheriff's Office.
Both the officer and suspect were taken to an area hospital.
The officer's injuries are said to be non-life-threatening. The suspect sustained life-threatening injuries.
Investigation of the incident is being conducted by the Clay County Sheriff's Office.
A spokesperson for the sheriff's office says the incident was "really not typical" for the area and "comes as a shock" to the community, noting her understanding of the difficulty the officer's and suspect's families are experiencing.
At this time, initial investigation has found the officers "had to use force to prevent further violence," per the sheriff's office spokesperson.
Further investigation is ongoing.
This is a developing story and may be updated.
