Independence Police answer some questions after Oval Spring Apartments shooting leaves woman, child dead
“Their response was exactly as they were trained to perform yesterday” - Chief Dustman
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Independence police chief Adam Dustman stands by their officer’s decision to pull the trigger at the Oval Spring Apartments complex Thursday.
Dustman met with the media Friday to share what information he could surrounding the officer involved shooting in Independence. the investigation is being led by the Blue Springs Police Department as part of the Eastern Jackson County Police Involved Incident Team (PITT).
“I can’t speak to their official causes of death as that will come from autopsy and confirmation as the investigation goes on. So I don’t have that information – that’ll come from the investigation as part of the PIIT team.”
READ MORE: Police: Woman and child die in apartment complex shooting, officer on istrative leave
A mental health responder came to the initial call in an attempt to deescalate the situation involving a woman armed with a knife. A child was also involved in the situation throughout the day Thursday that concluded with an officer firing shots.
“Ultimately, did not end up engaging before the situation escalated to where it ultimately resulted in those fatalities,” Dustman said.
The woman and child are dead and the officer is on istrative leave. Two other officers that responded to the initial call are also on istrative leave.
There are still plenty of questions surrounding this incident as Dustman could not clarify if the officer did kill the woman and/or child.
Blue Springs Police would not confirm the age of the child killed.
“At this time we are not releasing any additional details other than what has already been shared with the media. Family notifications are still being made and we want to give them time to who they need to before additional information is shared,” said BSPD Captain of Investigations Kyle Flowers.
READ MORE: 2 people dead in shooting with police at Independence apartments
Dustman stands by the officer, who he said is a long-tenured veteran of law enforcement, and their decision as it is part of the training they have been taught regardless of a child involved.
“It’s no different than what the law requires which is if there is imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury to anyone else or themselves that that is an evaluation factor,” he said. “Their response was exactly as they were trained to perform yesterday and they did so according to that training and expertise.”
A third party made the 911 call Thursday for an alleged assault. Dustman weighed in on the tragedy of the situation.
“Unfortunately sometimes through the course of our duties and the things that we are called to, those split second decisions are made and that tragedy occurs,” he said. “My heart goes out to that family that was absolutely torn apart yesterday.”
At the scene on Friday, the Oval Spring leasing office was closed.
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