“Shooting Death of Man Who Killed Fairway Police Officer Ruled Justified: Report”

Accident – Death – Obituary News : The Johnson County District Attorney has released a report stating that the use of force in the shooting death of the man who killed Fairway, Kansas, Police Officer Jonah Oswald was justified. As a result, the two law enforcement officers who opened fire, killing the suspect, will not face charges.

The incident began on August 6, when officers from the Lenexa Police Department located a stolen vehicle at West 95th Street and Interstate 35. The suspect driving the vehicle struck a Lenexa police patrol car and fled the scene, leading officers on a high-speed chase. The vehicle eventually crashed on the exit ramp to Lamar Avenue in Mission, Kansas, and the two suspects ran into a QuikTrip gas station.

Multiple law enforcement agencies arrived at the scene to arrest the suspects. As they attempted to make contact, gunfire broke out between the officers and the suspects. One of the suspects, Shannon Wayne Marshall, was shot and killed during the exchange, while the other suspect, Andrea Cothran, was taken into custody.

Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe conducted a thorough investigation into the incident, reviewing security footage and body-worn camera footage from the officers involved. According to the report, Cothran was driving the stolen vehicle and had rammed a Lenexa police car, elevating the event to a battery on a law enforcement case. This allowed officers to pursue the stolen vehicle.

The report details the officers’ attempts to apprehend Marshall before the shooting occurred. After Marshall refused to surrender and showed his empty hands, a Kansas State Trooper, a Mission Police Officer, and Officer Oswald decided to enter the restroom where Marshall was hiding to make the arrest. The trooper took the lethal assignment with his gun, the Mission officer had a less-lethal taser, and Oswald followed with his bare hands. Two other officers were also present to assist.

The report states that Marshall, who was armed with a gun, shot Officer Oswald in the head as he attempted to arrest him. In response, the trooper climbed above the partition between the stalls and shot Marshall multiple times, killing him. The other officers retreated from the restroom to take cover.

Oswald was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries the following day. Marshall was pronounced dead at the scene. A toxicology report revealed the presence of methamphetamine, amphetamine, and norfentanyl in Marshall’s system.

Howe concluded that the officers’ use of deadly force was justified under Kansas law, as they reasonably believed it was necessary to prevent death or great bodily harm to themselves or others. He noted that the officers did not know or suspect that Marshall was armed with a gun and intended to use non-deadly force to arrest him.

While Cothran was initially charged with several offenses related to the incident, including first-degree murder in connection with Oswald’s death, her criminal trial is still pending.

The shooting death of Officer Jonah Oswald was a tragic event that unfolded during the pursuit and arrest of suspects involved in a stolen vehicle. The District Attorney’s report provides a detailed account of the events leading up to the shooting, highlighting the justified use of force by law enforcement officers..