Eight law enforcement officers will not face criminal charges following a deadly January 2025 shooting outside an aerospace manufacturing complex, according to a newly released prosecutorial review.
Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett announced that five police officers, one sheriff’s deputy and two sheriff’s sergeants were legally justified when they opened fire on 28-year-old Devario Ceon Edwards.
Edwards was critically injured during the confrontation on January 23, 2025, and died at a hospital the following day.
Officers Fired 124 Rounds During Confrontation
According to the district attorney’s 24-page report, the eight officers collectively fired 124 rounds during the late-night exchange outside the Spirit AeroSystems complex on South Oliver.
Investigators determined that Edwards fired approximately 23 rounds toward officers before law enforcement returned fire. He was struck at least 12 times.
Two law enforcement vehicles were reportedly hit by bullets fired from Edwards’ weapon, which authorities described as an AK-47-style semiautomatic pistol. No officers or deputies were struck.
The shooting began shortly before 11:30 p.m. after authorities located Edwards in the company parking area.
District Attorney Finds Officers Acted in Self-Defense
Bennett said investigators did not find sufficient evidence to establish that the officers were acting unlawfully.
Under Kansas law, officers may use deadly force when they reasonably believe it is necessary to protect themselves or others from an imminent threat of death or serious injury.
The report concluded that the eight officers were acting in self-defense and were therefore immune from prosecution.
Bennett described Edwards’ death as regrettable but said the available evidence did not provide a legal basis for holding the officers criminally responsible.
Earlier Incidents Raised Concerns
The report stated that Edwards had been involved in six law enforcement cases during the 12 days preceding the fatal confrontation.
One incident involved an allegation that Edwards forced his way into the home of his girlfriend’s father and pointed a firearm at him. The man told investigators that the weapon appeared to malfunction when Edwards attempted to fire it.
Edwards then allegedly fled the residence.
Authorities also said Edwards’ employment at Spirit had ended on January 17, less than a week before the shooting.
Social Media Broadcast Preceded Shooting
Before travelling to the aerospace complex, Edwards reportedly began broadcasting on Facebook Live.
According to Bennett, Edwards spoke during the livestream about becoming involved in an armed confrontation with law enforcement.
Police officers and sheriff’s deputies later located him in the parking area. Investigators said Edwards opened fire after officers arrived, leading to the exchange that ended with his fatal injuries.
Mental Health Concerns Noted
Previous reporting and law enforcement accounts suggested that Edwards may have been experiencing a mental health crisis during the days and hours before the shooting.
The district attorney’s review acknowledged the broader circumstances but focused primarily on whether the officers’ use of force violated criminal law.
The legal finding does not erase questions about mental health intervention or the events that led Edwards to the parking lot. It determines only whether prosecutors had sufficient evidence to file criminal charges against the officers.
The district attorney concluded that the eight officers responded to an immediate deadly threat after Edwards fired nearly two dozen rounds toward them.
Although no officers will be prosecuted, the incident remains a tragic example of how an escalating crisis can end in loss of life.
The newly released report provides the official legal explanation for the decision while documenting the dangerous confrontation faced by everyone at the scene.