Officer-involved shooting in Topeka
SHAWNEE COUNTY — The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred Sunday afternoon in Topeka.
The Topeka Police Department (TPD) requested KBI assistance at approximately 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4. KBI agents and the Crime Scene Response Team responded to the scene.
At approximately 4:28 p.m., two TPD officers arrived at a residence in the 3100 block of SW Chelsea Drive to locate Michael Wayne Schmidt, 47, of Topeka. Officers were searching for Schmidt in connection with a previous incident and arrest.
Schmidt allowed the officers inside the home, and following a brief discussion, officers attempted to take Schmidt into custody. Schmidt then fled to a back room, and officers followed. Inside the room, Schmidt retrieved a firearm. Officers issued verbal commands ordering Schmidt to drop the gun. Preliminary information indicates that during the encounter, Schmidt produced and fired a handgun, and one TPD officer discharged their duty weapon. Schmidt sustained a gunshot wound during the incident.
EMS responded to the scene, but Schmidt succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased. No officers were injured during the incident.
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 Shawnee County District Attorney for review.
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