EARLIER RELEASE
July 23, 2026
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Fatal officer-involved shooting in Topeka
SHAWNEE COUNTY – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred Thursday morning in downtown Topeka.
The Topeka Police Department (TPD) requested KBI assistance at approximately 7:23 a.m. Thursday, July 23. KBI agents and the Crime Scene Response Team responded to the scene.
At approximately 6:00 a.m., a TPD officer responded to assist with a disabled vehicle in the 500 block of South Kansas Avenue. An individual was working on the disabled vehicle while a TPD officer was parked behind it to safely direct traffic.
At approximately 7:00 a.m., a silver Chevrolet Equinox circled the location twice before driving directly toward the disabled vehicle, the person working on it, and the officer. The driver swerved and struck a nearby fire hydrant at approximately 7:04 a.m.
An adult female exited the Chevrolet Equinox holding a knife and shouting. The officer gave commands to drop the knife. The woman initially dropped the knife, but picked it back up and fled inside the Townsite Tower building. The officer followed her inside, where she continued shouting and began swinging the knife at a person inside the building.
At approximately 7:05 a.m., the officer discharged their firearm, striking the subject.
Despite attempted life-saving measures, the woman succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene. The female subject will be identified once next-of-kin notification is complete. No law enforcement officers or bystanders were injured during the incident.
Preliminary information indicates there is no known connection between the woman, the person working on the disabled vehicle, or the bystander inside the building.
This independent investigation aims to discover all events leading up to the officer-involved shooting. In police use of force cases, the KBI releases details to the public as soon as possible. This information is preliminary in nature and is based on evidence collected and early statements of the parties involved, witnesses, medical personnel, and others. It does not represent final or thorough findings, which take several weeks to complete.
The investigation remains ongoing. Once the investigation is complete, the findings will be presented to the prosecutor of jurisdiction for review.
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