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Police captain fatally shot in Kansas City, Kansas whilst on shooting investigation

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. - The Latest on the shooting of a police officer in Kansas City, Kansas.

 10:45 a.m.

The police chief in Kansas City, Kansas, says the officer who died was shot several times through his window.

Chief Terry Zeigler said during a news conference Wednesday that authorities believe they have all suspects in custody, but no charges have been announced.

He also said the attack isn't part of the recent string of shootings in the U.S., but that "hate against police has got to stop."

Capt. Robert Melton was shot multiple times Tuesday afternoon while searching for a drive-by shooting suspect, and died at a hospital shortly after.

Zeigler choked up at the podium as he thanked the community for their support.

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   10:40 a.m.

The mayor of Kansas City, Kansas, says authorities don't believe the fatal shooting of an officer was part of a planned ambush, but someone trying to evade arrest.

Mayor Mark Holland of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County also said during a Wednesday news conference that the community is still "healing and reeling" from the fatal shooting of a Kansas City, Kansas, officer in May, which was the first in the department in 19 years.

Capt. Robert Melton was fatally shot Tuesday while searching for a drive-by shooting suspect.

Wyandotte County Commissioner Harold Johnson said a short prayer before the news conference began.

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   10:10 a.m.

Police in Kansas City, Kansas, have set up a table draped in blue cloth inside its headquarters where people can place cards and flowers honoring a slain officer.

Thirty-one-year-old Kathryn Courtney described Capt. Robert Melton as "born to protect and serve" as she left a bouquet of yellow daisies Wednesday. Courtney said she had known Melton for nearly 20 years and that he was "a wonderful man with a heart of gold."

Melton was killed Tuesday while searching for a drive-by shooting suspect. Police have scheduled a 10:30 a.m. news conference to provide more details.

Police employees were taking the items left outside the headquarters and bringing them to the lobby's memorial.

Police said in a news release that Melton's relatives are asking for privacy.

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   1 a.m.

Authorities are expected to release further details about the fatal shooting of a Kansas City, Kansas, police captain who was searching for a drive-by shooting suspect.

Police are holding a Wednesday morning news conference in the shooting death of Capt. Robert Melton. A suspect is in custody, but the person's name hadn't been released because no charges had been filed by Tuesday night, hours after the shooting.

The 46-year-old Melton was a 17-year veteran of the department.

Police spokesman Tom Tomasic said Melton was searching for a suspect in a drive-by shooting when he drove up to someone matching the description. Tomasic said that before Melton could get out of his vehicle, the person opened fire and hit the officer multiple times.

 

4:25 p.m.

Kansas City, Kansas, Police Chief Terry Zeigler says the officer who was shot and killed came after officers responded to a drive-by shooting.

Zeigler says the suspected vehicle fled at about 2 p.m. Tuesday and led police on a chase.

That chase ended when Capt. Robert Melton arrived and the suspects jumped out of the car and opened fire, hitting Melton multiple times. Melton was declared dead at a hospital.

The chief noted at a news conference that the community is still recovering from the shooting death of Kansas City police detective Brad Lancaster, who was gunned down near Kansas Speedway in May.

   4:10 p.m.

A surgeon in the Kansas City, Kansas, area says that the officer who was shot multiple times by suspects in an earlier shooting has died.

University of Kansas trauma surgeon James Howard says the officer, Capt. Robert Melton, arrived just before 2:30 p.m. and that resuscitation efforts did not work.

The officer was shot Tuesday afternoon in his car as he approached people matching the description of suspects in an earlier shooting.

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   3:45 p.m.

Police in Kansas City, Kansas, say a ranking officer was in his patrol car when he was shot multiple times by suspects in an earlier shooting.

Spokesman Tom Tomasic says officers responded around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday to a report of an armed disturbance involving shots fired at a person from people in a car.

He says three or four suspects jumped out of the car after police arrived at the scene. One person was taken into custody there, and a second was apprehended later.

About a half-hour after the initial report, an officer saw people matching the suspects' description 20 blocks from the original scene and approached them in his patrol car.

Tomasic says the officer was shot multiple times and his wounds are considered life-threatening, but he couldn't say where on the body the officer was shot.

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   3:10 p.m.

An officer with Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department is in critical condition after being shot while investigating a report of person being shot at by several people in a vehicle.

Police say three or four people were inside the vehicle but jumped out and ran when officers arrived at the scene at 1:37 p.m. Tuesday. An officer took a suspect into custody at 1:39 p.m. A different officer was shot at 1:57 p.m. when he tried to make contact with another suspect.

Police spokesman Cameron Morgan says the search continues for additional suspects.

Tuesday's shooting was the second of a Kansas City, Kansas, police officer since early May, when a police detective was shot and killed near Kansas Speedway.
 

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