Officer-involved shooting leaves two hospitalized
Originally published 09:59 a.m., March 18, 2008
Updated 04:56 p.m., March 18, 2008
An early-morning shooting landed two men in the hospital with life-threatening injuries. Several off-duty officers were involved in the incident, police said.
A 27-year-old man and an 18-year-old man were shot just before 3 a.m. near Southwest 25th Street and Southwest Stutley Road, just west of Cypress Ridge Golf Course, police said.
This morning, Topeka Police responded three times to the home where the shooting happened, 7418 SW 25th Street, after a “continuing disturbance,” Topeka Police Maj. John Sidwell said.
At about 1:22 a.m., police responded to a loud music call at the home, Sidwell said in a news release. At 1:45 a.m., police returned to the area and the music had been turned down.
Then at 2:54 a.m. officers were dispatched back to the address, after dispatchers received a call there had been a shooting involving an off-duty officer, said Sidwell, a police administrator in charge of criminal investigations.
“An off-duty officer was involved in an altercation at the address,” he said at the scene.
“There were several off-duty officers involved in the incident as well as several subjects in the residence,” Sidwell said.
Several officers live in the neighborhood, a neighbor said.
The gunfire and music woke neighbors up.
“It is really scary, because this neighborhood is pretty quiet,” said Precy Smith, a neighbor.
“Bang, bang, bang,” said Ran Zhang, a witness. “The woman said, ‘My goodness, oh somebody got shot.’”
One neighbor said he rushed his kids to the basement after he heard the gunfire. He said he fears for his life.
Several officers spent the day collecting evidence from the front yard of the home, which neighbors describe as a party house. Bloody clothes, several drinking straws and a beer can littered the yard. Neighbors said the house has been the source of many problems.
The Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office has agreed to conduct the criminal investigation into the incident, said Sidwell. Officers are keeping pretty tightlipped.
Sidwell said the Topeka Police Department will conduct an administrative review, to determine if police policies and procedures were followed.
Comments
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Mar. 18, 2008 at 6:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)shannen777 (anonymous)
I imagine the officers ARE keeping pretty tightlipped..that's because this is a BIG screw up! No matter WHAT kind of partying was going on at this house on this particular night, these people didn't deserve to be shot! They were confronted by people who DID NOT identify themselves as police officers and had OBVIOUSLY been doing a little partying of their own! The only shots that were fired were by the OFF DUTY police officers. Now there are two young men in the hospital with life threatening injuries and people are trying to run THEIR names through the mud to make it "all better". It was mentioned that there were cars coming and going at 2-3 in the morning..did it ever occur to people that not everyone works a regular 9-5 shift???? Didn't think so! To add insult to injury (quite literally, in this case), members of the TPD have been lingering in the halls of the hospital where the men are being treated. Haven't they done enough already?! They should have absolutely NOTHING to do with the investigation of this incident..it should be handled by someone completely unbiased.
Mar. 18, 2008 at 11:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)oldmayor (anonymous)
Get real Shannen- that was a known drug and party house. All the neighbors said they had drugs, kids and guns in the house. They used to stand out on the deck and fire the guns. When you pull a gun on anybody, especially a cop, you better plan on him shooting you. Wake up.
Mar. 18, 2008 at 11:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)GIJOE (anonymous)
ARE YOU SERIOUS? DID YOU READ WHAT YOU SAID? YOUR AN IDIOT!
Mar. 19, 2008 at 12:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)shannen777 (anonymous)
So, oldmayor, if we THINK someone is doing something wrong, we just take matters into our own hands and shoot 'em up bang bang? That's what it sounds like you're saying to me..and that's what it sounds like happened there that night. Nobody that confronted the individuals at the house identified themselves as police officers until AFTER the two men had been critically injured from the shootings..as far as they knew, they were protecting their household..the VERY SAME way I would do in the same situation! I think it's you, oldmayor, who needs to wake up and realize that sometimes (NOT ALWAYS..because I know that there are good cops out there!) the folks that are paid to protect are just as corrupt as the people that they are supposed to be taking off of the streets..even worse, they have a badge to hide behind!
Mar. 19, 2008 at 11:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)rivera915 (anonymous)
How would you feel if you and your famiily were enjoying a get together at your house, minding your own business, and uninvited, drunk, people show up, yelling and causing problems. You ask them to leave and the lady in the group becomes enraged, yelling racial remarks and starts hitting your sister in law. Then the male subject starts fighting with your brother and next thing you know your brother is shot. The houseowner tries to defend his property by attempting to stop the harrasment, and he gets shot 4 times. Then after all this the police are called and start arriving, and the instigators announce they are police officers!
no charges are presed on the officers because of course, they are officers, the two victims are in critical condition, and the residents of Topeka, KS are posting hurtful, hateful comments on CJOnline and the news stations while this family is praying that 2 brothers make it through! What kind of City is this? Do you individuals who think this way sleep at night? If it was you child or relative would you be ok with how this was handled? How pitiful that the world cannot get over the stereotyping of any person enough to have compassion for the real story.
Mar. 19, 2008 at 12:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)ConcernedCitizen (anonymous)
Hopefully someone of importance can look further into this story because there's alot of missing peices that the media is not informing the public on. #1. What were the off dudy police officers doing at the residence when (according to the ABC 49 news) "Police retured to the area and the music had been turned down"? Stating that the residence complied with the police department the first time.
#2. Regaurdless if this was a party house or not, what business did all four off dudy officers(whom live in the area) have at that residence at 2:30am. What "altercation insued"? Could this be personal?
#3. Hypothetically speaking, if the one person whom resided at this house attempted to protect his household (which we all have the right to do) drew a weapon, how come the officers didn't identify themselves. Also did the resident fire a shot at all? Did he even have a weapon at all. What prompted theas officers to shoot not one but two people.In addition, are there any pending charges for the two hospitalized. If not, why did the off dudy officers open fire. I sure as hell hope these off dudy officers have a good explination or reason for opening fire. Alot of questions need to be anwsered. This story has alot of holes in it. I hope someone with integrity can step up to the plate and further review whats really going on. I plan on follwing up on this story to see the outcome.
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