Officer was justified in taking pictures Olathe East Excessive Faculty suspected gunman, prosecutor finds

OLATHE, Ks. (KCTV) – The officer who shot the suspected gunman in March’s taking pictures at Olathe East Excessive Faculty was justified in his actions and won’t face fees, the Johnson County prosecutor dominated on Friday.

The varsity useful resource officer, who was shot 4 occasions by the gunman at shut vary, returned fireplace and shot the suspect two occasions in a fast and intense confrontation within the assistant principal’s workplace on March 4.

Police mentioned a pupil notified faculty workers {that a} pupil, Jaylon Elmore, had been bringing a gun to highschool. Two assistant principals went to Elmore’s classroom and pulled him out, asking him to deliver his backpack with him. Whereas the three have been sitting down in an assistant principal’s workplace, directors requested to go looking Elmore’s backpack, in accordance with investigators.

The scholar refused to permit his backpack to be searched. The SRO entered the workplace and stood by the door. An assistant principal once more requested Elmore for his backpack, at which level Elmore stood, pulled out a gun and fired photographs at these within the room, in accordance with the Olathe Police Division and findings from Johnson County Prosecutor Steve Howe’s workplace.

The assistant principal tackled the coed to the bottom, whereas the SRO returned fireplace and shot at Elmore 4 occasions, hitting him with two of these photographs, the prosecutor’s findings say.

After the short change, the SRO holstered his weapon and tended to his personal accidents, whereas instructing workers on the right way to deal with Elmore’s accidents.

A complete of three individuals have been shot:

-The SRO, in his chest, leg and shoulder.

-The assistant principal, in his thigh and forearm.

-The scholar, allegedly Jaylon Elmore, in his stomach and left thigh.

Everybody concerned survived.

An investigation discovered that Elmore allegedly used a Polymer80 9mm handgun. The SRO used a department-issued Glock 9mm handgun.

The prosecutor discovered that the taking pictures was justified on the SRO’s half, in affiliation with Kansas regulation. Howe’s conclusion reads:

‘The Olathe Faculty Useful resource Officer believed that he was going to die when Jaylon Elmore drew a handgun and started firing at him. He watched the muzzle flashes and felt the bullets affect his physique. This was a sudden burst of lethal violence with out provocation. Objectively, the info help this perception. The feminine assistant principal informed investigators that Mr. Elmore drew and shot his gun earlier than the SRO might reply. The SRO was shot 4 occasions leading to three gunshot wounds. This was clearly a lethal power scenario. Below all the suitable authorized statutes and circumstances as cited above, it was affordable for the officer to make use of lethal power in opposition to Jaylon Elmore. In mild of Mr. Elmore’s pending legal case and my moral obligations underneath Supreme Court docket Rule 3.6 and three.8, I cannot be conducting a press convention or making any additional feedback presently.’

Elmore remained within the hospital for weeks, recovering from his gunshot wounds. He was later transferred to the Johnson County Detention Middle, the place he stays on $1 million bond. He’s charged with tried capital homicide, and pleaded not responsible. His subsequent court docket date is a scheduling convention set for Aug. 17 at 11 a.m. in Johnson County Division 17.

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