JoCo district legal professional: Lenexa police taking pictures justified

KANSAS Metropolis, Mo. — Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe declared Friday that a lethal capturing involving Lenexa law enforcement in May was justified.

The capturing remaining 34-12 months-outdated Darren Dejuan Chandler, of Nashville, Tennessee, useless.

All through a press meeting Friday morning, Howe joined Lenexa Police Main Dawn Layman to current edited human body digicam online video of the incident.

Audio from the dispatch get in touch with was also performed at the meeting.

All around 5 a.m., the caller claimed a domestic disturbance and mentioned they could listen to a gentleman screaming at a lady and also explained to dispatchers, “I am fairly guaranteed I heard him smack her at least after.”

The physique digicam footage showed that close to 5:03 a.m., officers arrived at the Extended Stay Hotel and later on arrived at the door of the place exactly where Chandler and his girlfriend were being being.

The online video then confirmed officers approaching the doorway and knocking on it, yelling “law enforcement.” Officers could be heard telling the occupants of the room to open up the doorway, and Chandler could be listened to asking, “What is actually likely on?”

After no 1 opens the doorway, officer made use of a hotel key to attempt to get in. Video showed officers kick the door open up and gun pictures ended up fired, forcing the officers to retreat and choose go over.

According to a presentation Howe gave as aspect of evidence, Chandler attained floor on the officers just after they retreated and that is when officers fired back at Chandler, killing him.

“You can in fact see the gunpowder, the discharge out of the firearm, which I consider helped validate for the investigators and for our workplace that, in reality, he was the to start with one to shoot in that sequence and then the officers as they were falling backwards then return fireplace,” Howe mentioned.

Howe’s report also confirmed officers did not have a warrant and have been not invited inside the room. But underneath Kansas regulation, officers had a appropriate to enter the area simply because instant motion was essential.

“The officers all noted in their job interview that they were being involved with the victim’s safety,” Howe stated. “She stopped generating sounds and [they] have been concerned for her welfare.”

The girl endured injuries from Chandler, who experienced been striving to strangle her, Howe claimed.

Michael Tabman, a former police officer and FBI specific agent, explained domestic violence predicaments typically are the most dangerous for police officers and that, in this situation, the use of lethal drive was justified.

“If you enjoy the online video, it certainly appears that the topic fired first. He was prepared,” Tabman reported. “The officers experienced no decision but to return hearth. If you issue a gun at a police officer, you are heading to be shot.”

The officers included in the capturing were being not wounded, but are on modified obligation and acquiring counseling because of the incident.

“Just viewing it right here all over again these days, makes my coronary heart pump very speedy,” Layman said. “[We’re] pretty blessed that we didn’t eliminate at least two officers in that predicament.”

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For jurisdictions that employ the Increased Kansas Town Crime Stoppers Tips Hotline, nameless recommendations can be made by contacting 816-474-Recommendations (8477), distributing the idea on the web or by means of the free cellular app at P3Tips.com.

Yearly homicide details and details for the Kansas Town location are accessible through the KSHB 41 Information Murder Tracker, which was released in 2015. Browse the KSHB 41 Information Mug Shot Policy.