Police officers shoot, kill man near Douglas and Meridian (VIDEO)

A man whom police say had gang-related ties was shot and killed early Sunday by Wichita police officers following a 10-minute episode in which the man walked through a west Wichita neighborhood periodically firing a gun, police said.

At one point, the 18-year-old man sat on a street curb and fired at vehicles as they traveled eastbound on Douglas or left the Mount Carmel Village Apartments, then reloaded to fire his semi-automatic handguns again.

As early as 4:50 a.m. Sunday, residents called Sedgwick County 911 dispatchers to report a possible drive-by shooting in the area, according to John Speer, deputy chief with the Wichita Police Department. This weekend, Speer was acting chief while interim Chief Nelson Mosley was out of town at a conference. Speer said Mosley has been advised of the shooting.

“At 4:50, officers responded to what was reported as a drive-by shooting in the area of Mount Carmel and West Douglas,” Speer said during a media briefing late Sunday afternoon. “When officers arrived, they had no identifiable suspect. ... We have since learned the suspect involved this morning was also involved in the incident that was reported at 4:50 as a drive-by.”

About an hour later, residents inundated 911 dispatchers with reports of a man walking with an injured leg in the neighborhood and shooting repeatedly at houses and passers-by. The scene of the shooting stretched from the 600 block of North Mount Carmel to Sheridan and High streets and to the 3100 block of West Douglas, Speer said.

“When one of the officers arrived into the Mount Carmel apartments and confronted the individual, the suspect started firing,” Speer said.

In fact, one of the bullets entered the police officer’s vehicle on the driver’s side. At that time, the 18-year-old man was on the south side of Douglas and Mount Carmel.

“The officer made an evasive driving maneuver and pulled into the complex,” Speer said. “He was immediately taking gunfire by the suspect. He got on the radio and requested assistance by additional officers. He exited the vehicle and took cover.”

The police officer was pinned down by continued gunfire from the 18-year-old. When other officers arrived, the suspect began firing on those officers, shooting through the windshield of another police vehicle and a passenger door on another.

Speer said the suspect fired multiple rounds of ammunition and reloaded several times. He was found with additional rounds on his body after he was shot and killed.

“Unfortunately, the suspect continued to fire, and he was shot and killed,” Speer said.

A home security camera recorded the final moments of the exchange of gunfire. During the 5 p.m. police briefing, officers provided still photos of the individual as he reached for his guns – a .22 caliber revolver and a .380 semi-automatic handgun. The video is considered evidence and is not being released at this time, Speer said.

“We are saddened by the fact that the individual who made these decisions this morning in our community did what he did and that these decisions resulted in him being shot and killed by Wichita police officers,” Speer said. “Our thoughts go out to the friends and family of this suspect as well as to the officers and their families who were involved in this tragic event as well as neighbors and witnesses.”

Speer commended the officers involved in the shooting. Those officers – all had between one and five years of experience – have been placed on administrative leave while the shooting is investigated. None of the officers was injured in the shooting, Speer said.

The 18-year-old’s name has not been released, pending notification of family members. Speer did say the man was identified as a gang associate in the gang database of the Wichita Police Department. The 18-year-old was documented as a missing person in the Kansas City area and had some warrants out of Cowley County.

The Wichita Police Department’s Homicide Section, the Professional Standards Bureau, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the District Attorney’s Office are all investigating the shooting.

Throughout the day on Sunday, Wichita police talked to residents and witnesses who saw and heard what happened. More than 30 officers were at the scene at one point.

As soon as the shooting happened, police closed the entrance to Mount Carmel apartments; they gathered evidence from the grass and on the pavement near the apartment complex office.

Crime scene tape blocked driving lanes inside the grounds, preventing residents from leaving or entering the complex Sunday.

A resident of the complex who gave her name only as Lacey said she was walking with her infant daughter at about 6:45 a.m. when she heard numerous popping sounds.

“I thought, ‘Oh, I hope that’s not gunfire,’ ” said Lacey, who would not give her last name.

It was gunfire, however, and Lacey estimated she heard dozens of shots. The gunfire didn’t happen on the complex grounds, she said, but on Douglas.

The closing of the lanes in the complex and on Douglas frustrated some residents.

“I’ve got to get to church and then to work,” one resident said Sunday morning, staring south at a patrol car on Douglas, its emergency lights flashing.

Douglas was closed throughout Sunday and into the evening. Police were allowing residents to leave the complex but were recording names and license plates of those who left. Those returning to the complex were asked to park their vehicles along St. Paul while the investigation continues.

This story was originally published October 26, 2014 at 8:42 AM with the headline "Police officers shoot, kill man near Douglas and Meridian (VIDEO)."