SALINA, Kan. – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred Tuesday afternoon in Salina.
At the request of Salina Police Department (SPD), KBI agents and the Crime Scene Response Team responded to conduct the investigation.
At around 11:20 a.m., SPD received a call from a woman who reported an armed domestic disturbance at her home, in the 900 block of Birch Drive in Salina.
Preliminary information indicates that when officers arrived, they contacted a female subject outside the house and learned that a male subject, later identified as Manuel Johnson-Ponce, 29, of Salina, had barricaded inside the home with a three-year old child. He was making threats to the child and officers.
Around 12 p.m., SPD’s SWAT team also responded to the scene. KBI’s High Risk Warrant Team (HRWT) was requested to assist around 12:15 p.m.
During the standoff, Johnson-Ponce refused to comply with repeated commands to come out of the house. He would also not allow the toddler to leave. Around 1 p.m. an officer from SPD fired rounds striking Johnson-Ponce. Immediately following the shooting, law enforcement officers safely rescued the child from the home.
Officers rendered aid to Johnson-Ponce. EMS arrived and transported him to a local hospital. Johnson-Ponce was treated for non-life threatening injuries and is in stable condition. No law enforcement 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.
When this investigation concludes, case findings will be presented to the Saline County Attorney. The investigation is ongoing.
