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Kansas City Police Department Releases Report On Deadly June 14 Officer Shootings

Flickr user Chris Murphy
Barney Allis Plaza in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, was one of the sites of two officer-involved shootings on June 14.

The Kansas City Police Department released a statement Wednesday with more details about the events on June 14, when police shot and killed three people in two different incidents. 

"These were outcomes no one wanted and were a tragedy for all involved," the KCPD said in a statement that included more information gathered by KCPD detectives for the initial investigation. 

Related: When is it acceptable for police to use lethal force? 

Two men dead at Barney Allis Plaza:

Reports of a disturbance and the sound of gunshots brought officers to Barney Allis Plaza at 12th and Wyandotte in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, shortly before 5 p.m. According to the report, "a caller reported two men fighting with a gun, possibly over a golf cart."

These two men were later identified as Timothy D. Mosley and Robert A. White. Before police responded to this call, Mosley had reportedly been kicked out of the Marriott Hotel "for causing a disturbance." He then used a handgun to rob a uniformed security officer of property, including a golf cart; the officer escaped.  

The report states that when officers arrived on the scene, Mosley and White "were heavily engaged in a physical confrontation," fighting and then separating. According to the report, "in between their fights, Mosley walked around Barney Allis Plaza holding the gun in the air and yelling." White sat at a picnic table.

Officers are "still trying to determine why they were fighting, why White remained on the scene, and whether the two men were acquainted previously." 

During one of their altercations, Mosley "pointed the gun at officers." The officers fired and struck both men. According to the report, "the officers rendered first aid, but both men were pronounced deceased." A semi-automatic pistol and a spent shell casing were recovered from the scene.

Sword-wielding woman killed: 

Officers were already on site near N.E. 38th and Jackson Streets, working in the Northland neighborhood to spot criminal and drug activity. According to the report, at about 1:30 p.m., "They saw a woman walking down the street with a sword in the direction of a day care center."

The woman, identified by police as Ashley Fulkerson, ran from officers after they tried to talk to her and broke into a house, where she remained for more than a hour.  

Police officials then called an Operation 100. According to the report, this is "standard procedure" when a suspect is armed and doesn't come out of a location. Tactical officers, negotiators and others are called to the scene "to bring the incident to a safe conclusion."

The daycare went on lock-down. According to the report, "police used several tactics to get her to surrender, including negotiators, pepper spray and additional beanbag-type rounds."

Negotiators also attempted contact by phone and over a public address system. 

Around 4 p.m., "after being repeatedly instructed to disarm," Fulkerson reportedly left a detached garage behind a burnt-out house where she had fled, "and ran toward officers with the sword, resulting in the officers firing fatal shots at her."

Fulkerson was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. Police were able to recover the 27-inch steel sword.

Police officials will continue to gather witness statements and evidence. Witnesses are encouraged to call the Homicide Unit at 816-234-5148.

KCUR has already heard from one eyewitness, during a conversation about the use of police force on Tuesday's Up to Date.

"Once they (the officers) had actually shot her," Grant Braaten told host Steve Kraske, "she fell very close to, almost to their feet. She was very, very close." 

The KCPD report said the department expects an independent review to be conducted by county prosecutors, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney's Office. 

Laura Spencer is an arts reporter at KCUR 89.3. You can reach her on Twitter at @lauraspencer.

Kansas City is known for its style of jazz, influenced by the blues, as the home of Walt Disney’s first animation studio and the headquarters of Hallmark Cards. As one of KCUR’s arts reporters, I want people here to know a wide range of arts and culture stories from across the metropolitan area. I take listeners behind the scenes and introduce them to emerging artists and organizations, as well as keep up with established institutions. Send me an email at lauras@kcur.org or follow me on Twitter @lauraspencer.
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