The Missouri State Highway Patrol is investigating a Thursday afternoon shooting involving Kansas City, Missouri, police after authorities said a man opened fire on a motorcycle officer.
According to the highway patrol, the incident happened around 1:38 p.m. Thursday near East 27th Street and Jackson Avenue in Kansas City, Missouri.
Officials said a male subject fired multiple rounds from a rifle at a Kansas City Police Department motorcycle officer while the officer was stopped at a stop sign.
The officer was not injured.
Officer Returned Fire During Encounter
According to a press release from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the armed man fired at the officer while the officer was stopped on his motorcycle.
Authorities said the officer got off the motorcycle and returned fire using his department-issued weapon.
No injuries were reported to either the officer or the suspect during the exchange.
Police later saw the subject run into a wooded area nearby. After a period of searching, the man exited the wooded area and was taken into custody.
Suspect Taken Into Custody
The highway patrol said the male subject was arrested after leaving the wooded area where he had fled following the shooting.
Authorities did not immediately release the suspect’s name, age or possible motive. It was also not immediately clear what led up to the shooting or why the officer was targeted.
Investigators said the case remains active, and additional details may be released as the investigation continues.
Search For Weapon Continues
As of 5 p.m. Thursday, authorities said the search for the suspect’s weapon was still underway.
Investigators believe the man fired a rifle multiple times at the officer. Law enforcement officers continued searching the area for the firearm and any other evidence connected to the incident.
Finding the weapon will likely be an important part of the investigation, as it may help confirm the sequence of events and support any future charges.
Two Agencies Handling Investigations
The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control is handling the investigation into the police-involved shooting.
At the same time, the Kansas City Police Department is investigating the alleged assault on the officer.
It is common for an outside agency to investigate shootings involving police officers to provide an independent review of the incident. Investigators are expected to examine evidence, speak with witnesses, review officer statements and determine the timeline of what happened.
No Injuries Reported
A highway patrol spokesperson confirmed that neither the motorcycle officer nor the suspect was injured in the shooting.
The area near East 27th Street and Jackson Avenue was the focus of a large law enforcement response after the gunfire was reported. Police remained in the area while investigators searched for the weapon and processed the scene.
Officials have not said whether nearby residents or businesses were affected during the search.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol is investigating after a man allegedly fired multiple rifle rounds at a Kansas City, Missouri, motorcycle officer Thursday afternoon. The officer returned fire, and the suspect later fled into a wooded area before being taken into custody.
No injuries were reported, but authorities continued searching for the suspect’s weapon as the investigation moved forward.