insidious_calm
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"Unarmed man shot by police appeared threatening"
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Police in Topeka are issued the Taser but I do not know if these officers had one or not.
I.C.
By Tim Richardson
CJOnline.com
A man who proclaimed he wanted to confront police outside his father's Topeka home was shot Thursday evening after taking a "shooting stance" that suggested he was armed, police said.
On Friday, police spokeswoman Kristi Pankratz said an investigation revealed that Fred McConnell IV, 26, wasn't armed when two police officers shot him at about 7:20 p.m. at 1746 S.W. Seabrook. Four officers who witnessed the shooting, including the two who fired shots, were placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard procedure in such cases.
McConnell's father reported to police that his son was "acting strange" after forcing his way into the house -- information that was relayed to officers as they arrived, police said.
McConnell indicated he had a weapon, saying he was going to hide in the bushes and confront officers as they arrived, Pankratz said. When officers arrived at the home, McConnell ran from the bushes and took a "shooting stance toward officers" that suggested he was armed, police said.
Police later learned McConnell hadn't been armed. He underwent surgery late Thursday at a Topeka hospital and was under police guard Friday at the hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries, Pankratz said. His condition had been considered critical Thursday evening.
Police said officer Lance Green, a six-year Topeka police officer, and officer Justin Broxterman, a two-year veteran, fired the shots. Officers Mitch Soden and Gray Bothwell, who were at the scene, also were put on paid leave. None of the four officers was injured.
Pankratz said the two officers fired a total of five shots -- one officer fired four shots and the other fired one. At least three shots struck McConnell, she said.
As with all officer-involved shootings, an internal police review board is investigating and will check for compliance of police procedures. The investigation will be reviewed with the Shawnee County district attorney's office after completion by detectives.
Pankratz said police will work with the district attorney's office regarding the possible filing of charges against McConnell. More information is expected to be released next week after an initial investigation is complete, she said.
Tim Richardson can be reached at (785) 295-1282 or [email protected].
Related story...
By Cait Purinton
The Capital-Journal
Two Topeka police officers were involved in a shooting late Thursday in which a man was critically injured.
Kristi Pankratz, police spokeswoman, said a man called dispatchers at 7:13 p.m. and reported a man he knew forced his way into the residence at 1746 S.W. Seabrook and was "acting strange."
"While the caller was on the phone with dispatch, the subject went outside the residence, saying he was going to wait for police and confront them," Pankratz said. "He also indicated he had a weapon."
She said a call over the police radio at 7:21 p.m. indicated an officer was in danger and shots had been fired.
The man's injuries were considered critical Thursday night. No officers were injured in the incident, Pankratz said.
The shooting is under investigation, and it appears two officers fired shots at the man, Pankratz said. The officers' names will be released today.
More information will be released after the initial investigation has been completed, Pankratz said. She said an administrative review board will investigate the shooting to check for compliance with the police department's procedures, which is standard when an officer uses his or her weapon.
In addition, the case will be investigated by detectives and reviewed by the Shawnee County district attorney's office.
Police in Topeka are issued the Taser but I do not know if these officers had one or not.
I.C.