TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Records show that a black man fatally shot by two police officers in Kansas’ capital was months out of prison after serving time on burglary and illegal gun possession charges.
Authorities confirmed Friday that 30-year-old Dominique Tyrell White had a criminal record and spent almost two years in prison starting in 2015.
White died Thursday. Topeka police said he struggled with officers responding to a reported disturbance near a park, tried to flee and reached for a pocket containing a handgun.
Authorities haven’t identified the officers.
Department of Corrections records showed White went to prison in 2015 for felony burglary and was discharged in August 2016.
The records show he returned to prison in October 2016 for illegal possession of a firearm as a felon and was released in May.
SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting.
Just before 9:30 Thursday, police responded to the 300 Block of Southeast Lawrence, in Topeka regarding a report of a disturbance with shots fired in the area, according to a media release.
Officers responding encountered a suspicious person identified as Dominique Tyrell White, 30, Topeka. White had a handgun. In the process of trying to secure the firearm, the individual struggled with officers and attempted to flee.
While fleeing from officers, the individual reached for the pocket containing the firearm, causing the officers to fire their weapons. The individual sustained life-threatening injuries as a result.
Officers immediately provided medical assistance and summoned AMR who transported the individual to a local hospital where the subject was pronounced dead.
White’s gun was recovered from the scene. All parties believed to be involved in the incident have been identified and the public at large is not in danger.
The Lawrence Police Department is conducting the investigation in the interest of transparency and at the request of Topeka Police Chief Kramer. The Shawnee County Sheriffs’ Office and the Kansas Highway Patrol also responded to assist the TPD with the incident.
Names of the officers involved were not released.