Officer-involved shooting in Harper County

HARPER COUNTY – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting that occurred Tuesday morning on U.S. Highway 160 in Harper County.

At around 7:15 a.m. on Tuesday, April 9, the Harper County Sheriff’s Office requested the KBI conduct an investigation after their sheriff’s deputy was involved in a shooting. KBI agents and the Crime Scene Response Team responded to investigate.

A motorist called 911 at approximately 6:55 a.m. to report a vehicle was stopped in the roadway on U.S. Highway 160, heading west. A deputy from the Harper County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area, which was around one mile west of Attica, Kansas. He located a tan 2006 Toyota Prius in the middle of highway. He approached the vehicle to offer assistance.

Preliminary information indicates that as the deputy approached the car he observed a female subject holding a knife in one hand and a scissors in the other. An officer from the Attica Police Department arrived on scene. The deputy and the officer backed away from the vehicle and called for backup. They gave numerous commands for the woman, later identified as Cheryl R. Gaines, 54, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to drop her weapons and exit the vehicle.

As they were backing away, approximately 100 yards from the vehicle, Gaines exited the vehicle as requested, but would not drop her weapons. She then charged and lunged toward the deputy and officer with the knife and scissors. As they were quickly retreating, the officer tripped and fell. Gaines caught up to the officer on the ground, while still armed with the knife and scissors. The Harper County sheriff’s deputy fired three shots toward Gaines, striking her.

EMS pronounced Gaines dead at the scene at approximately 7:15 a.m. No law enforcement officers were injured during the incident.

The KBI will conduct a thorough and independent investigation into this shooting. Once completed the findings will be presented to the Harper County Attorney for review. This investigation is ongoing.