An Independence police officer and a civil process server were killed Thursday afternoon during a shooting in Independence, police said.
One other officer was injured and a fourth person was taken to the hospital with injuries after the shooting, which took place about 1 p.m. at a residence in the 1100 block of North Elsea Smith Road and Bundschu Road in Independence.
Independence police were called at 1:09 p.m. to help civil process servers from the Jackson County Circuit Court after one was shot while serving legal documents.
There were multiple civil process servers at the residence, but only one was shot, according to Missouri State Highway Patrol spokesperson Cpl. Justin Ewing.
Independence Chief of Police Adam Dustman said that arriving officers went to help the injured civil process server, Drexel Mack.
“Our officers performed heroically,” Dustman said. “They found a male down at the address and went in to render aid and extract the victim that they found.”
Two Independence police officers responding to the scene were also shot. The suspect also suffered minor injuries and was taken into custody.
Dustman confirmed that Officer Cody Allen, who spent two stints with the department, died.
“He is a hero and, unfortunately, he lost his life today serving his community,” Dustman said.
Two other officers were shot, including one with critical injuries who required surgery.
Multiple agencies, including tactical units, responded to the scene after the suspect shot the officers and barricaded himself in the house. That included officers with the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department.
Eventually, tactical officers were able to take the suspect into custody.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol will investigate the shooting at the request of the Jackson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
A spokesperson for the Jackson County Circuit Court released a statement just before 4 p.m. on Thursday.
"We are devastated that a court employee, who is a public servant, was shot by a member of the public while performing their job," Circuit Court Presiding Judge Jalilah Otto said in the statement. "Our hearts are heavy and our thoughts are with our employee, our entire Court family, and the Independence Police Department."
The shooting occurred a few miles from several Fort Osage R-I School District schools.
A Fort Osage spokesperson said every school in the district was placed on lockdown out of an abundance of caution.
The lockdown was later lifted and schools dismissed on time. All students and schools remained safe during the incident.
The Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department and Jackson County Sheriff's Office are assisting the Independence Police Department at the scene.
This story was originally published by the KSHB 41 News Staff at Scripps News Kansas City.
