The officer who fatally shot a man holding people hostage in a Shawnee QuikTrip earlier this year will not face criminal charges, according to the Johnson County District Attorney.
On Monday, Steve Howe gave an update on the events that took place on February 18. According to Howe, the suspect, identified as 43-year-old Brett Smiley, initially entered a Hardee’s restaurant in Olathe while being naked and carrying a knife. After that, he proceeded to drive to Shawnee and fired shots into the air while on Kansas Highway 7.
As the surveillance footage from inside the QuikTrip off Shawnee Mission Parkway and Woodland Drive reveals, Smiley pointed his gun towards the ceiling and fired a shot before commanding everyone to get down on the ground.
According to investigators, responding officers reported seeing Smiley pointing the gun towards them.
Smiley was shot twice by an officer, and unfortunately, he passed away at the hospital.
Fortunately, there were no other casualties in the shooting incident.
According to the DA, Smiley’s family informed him that he had been grappling with substance abuse and mental health problems.
Howe expressed that the parents are deeply saddened by the loss of their son, and it serves as a tragic reminder of how detrimental issues like substance abuse and mental health can be to families.
According to the DA’s office, the actions taken by the officer who shot Smiley were deemed justified in order to protect not only his own life, but the lives of others as well.
According to Shawnee Police Chief Sam Larson, the response to the situation was a perfect example of how to handle such incidents.
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