What to know
- A Lee’s Summit police officer was shot multiple times while responding to a domestic disturbance and was hospitalized in serious condition.
- The officer was shot while pursuing a suspect on foot, and he did not return fire.
- Police have identified the suspect and are coordinating with multiple agencies to locate him.
Editor's note: Officials have identified the suspect accused of shooting a Lee's Summit police officer. His name is Thomas Eugene Tolbert, and he has a history of aggravated assault and shooting at law enforcement officers.
A Lee’s Summit police officer investigating a disturbance call is in serious condition at a hospital after being shot multiple times, a police spokesman said Monday.
Around 11 p.m. Sunday, the officer was reponding to a report of a domestic disturbance at the Residences at Echelon apartments in the 3500 block of Southwest Hollywood Drive, said Sgt. Chris Depue with the Lee’s Summit Police Department.
While the officer was waiting for an assisting officer to arrive, he saw a man running from the scene, and chased after him. Quickly thereafter, the officer advised via police radio that shots were fired, Depue said.
The officer, who did not fire any shots, was struck multiple times, Depue said. The officer was taken to a hospital’s trauma center with serious injuries.
The officer joined the Lee’s Summit Police Department about 1 1 /2 years ago, coming from another law enforcement agency, Depue said.Police know who the alleged suspect is and are working with local, state and federal law enforcement officers to try to track the man down, Depue said. Witnesses told police that the man fled the area in a vehicle.
Police are not releasing the name of the man they were searching for. If they exhaust all investigative means and still are unable to find him, they will turn to the public for assistance, Depue said.
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