Kansas police shoot at suspect who fired on officers during car chase, cops say | The Wichita Eagle

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this had an incorrect date for the incident.

Kansas cops have shot at an armed suspect after chasing a stolen vehicle that crashed into a patrol unit, officials said.

A Saline County sheriff’s deputy and Salina police officer discharged their duty weapons after a suspect exited a vehicle with a handgun Tuesday evening, the Salina Police Department said in a Facebook post. The suspect was taken into custody and to Salina Regional Hospital.

A deputy who sustained minor injuries during the police chase was also taken to the hospital, treated and released, police said.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation identified the suspect as Colt F. Wright, 24, of Derby. He was struck by bullets after he got in a shootout with cops, the KBI said in a release.

Salina Police Chief Brad Nelson said in the post that the officer-involved shooting occurred after an armed car jacking was reported at a gas station. The car jacking happened at a Kwik Shop convenience store near I-135 and Schilling Road at around 5:15 p.m. Tuesday.

Wright allegedly stole a 2010 Jeep Wrangler at gunpoint, the KBI said.

About 15 minutes later, a Salina officer observed the stolen vehicle traveling in the area of Magnolia Road at Ninth Street, about a mile north of the gas station.

“Prior to initiating a vehicle stop, the suspect backed up and rammed our officer,” the post said. “... This resulted in the police vehicle being disabled and the suspect fled the scene in the stolen vehicle. The officer was not injured.”

About 5 minutes after the suspect rammed the patrol vehicle, Saline County sheriff’s deputies spotted the stolen vehicle. Officers and deputies chased it, and the suspect fired multiple rounds at law enforcement during the pursuit, the police news release said.

A deputy was wounded when debris struck his face after a bullet hit his patrol vehicle, the KBI said.

The suspect crash at around 6 p.m. about 5 miles east of Salina, at the intersection of Whitmore and Country Club roads. Police said the suspect got out of the vehicle with a handgun, then a deputy and officer shot the suspect.

The KBI said Wright exchanged gunfire with police after the wreck, and he was struck by gunfire. No law enforcement officers were hit by bullets.

Wright underwent surgery at Salina Regional Hospital, the KBI said. His condition was not released.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation will investigate the officer-involved shooting, police said, and no further information will be released at this time.