One male Wyandotte County deputy has died in a shooting this morning at the Wyandotte County Courthouse area near 7th and Ann, according to officials.
Another deputy, a female, is in critical condition at the University of Kansas Hospital, according to officials.
A suspect is in surgery at the same hospital, officials stated today.
The deputies’ names are being withheld from the public until family notification.
The shooting happened about 11:30 a.m. today while two sheriff’s deputies were transporting inmates to the Wyandotte County Jail sallyport from the parking lot of the court services building, said Major Kelli Bailiff of the Wyandotte County Sheriff’s office, during a news conference.
The deputies in the parking lot were overcome, very possibly with their own firearm, Major Bailiff said.
The shooting is being investigated by the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department.
Police Chief Terry Zeigler said the shooting apparently happened outside the vehicle. Suspects were being transported to the jail from the court services building for a hearing.
Major Bailiff said that when inmates are transported, usually there are two deputies in the van. They go into the sallyport, pick up the inmates, after handcuffing them, and come out of the sallyport and drive to a parking lot behind the court services building, into a gated and locked area. Officials believe the shooting took place in the parking lot gated area, not in the courthouse.
Officials said they believe there is currently no danger to anyone.
There are no words to convey the sadness this brings to the deputies’ family and to our community. May this deputy RIP and I pray for strength to the family of LEOs and his personal family.