TOPEKA, Kan. – Law enforcement authorities are investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred early Monday in Topeka.
Just after 11:30 p.m. Sunday, the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center received a call about a domestic threat involving a 49-year-old Topeka man, according to police spokesperson Gretchen Spiker.
Preliminary information indicates that Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office deputies located the suspect later identified as 49-year-old Joseph W. Howell of Topeka inside a vehicle near US Highway 24 and N Kansas Avenue.
Deputies performed a car stop on the vehicle in the 3000 block of U.S. Highway 24 and attempted to make contact with Howell. Multiple attempts were made by law enforcement officers to negotiate with Howell.
Howell then displayed a firearm and fired at least two shots before initiating a brief vehicle pursuit with deputies. The deputies performed a tactical vehicle intervention that ended at NW 24 Highway Road and NW Stover Road.
Just after 12:30 a.m. Monday, gunfire was exchanged. Medical personnel responded to the scene and pronounced the Howell deceased, according to Spiker.
No law enforcement officers were injured in this incident.
Topeka police will complete a thorough and independent investigation into this incident, according to Spiker. Once completed, the findings will be turned over to the Shawnee County District Attorney for review.