KANSAS CITY, Kan. – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred early Monday morning in Kansas City, Kansas.
The Kansas City, Kansas Police Department (KCKPD) requested KBI assistance around 4 a.m. KBI special agents and the Crime Scene Response team responded.
Around 2:45 a.m., officers from KCKPD responded to a 911 call reporting a domestic incident. After meeting with the woman who called, they went to a storage unit at 235 N. 78th St., to interview the suspect, later identified as Timothy Cella, 41, of Kansas City, Kansas.
Preliminary information indicates when officers arrived, they attempted to establish contact with Cella, who they could view through a large window in the exterior storage unit. During negotiations, officers gave commands for him to come out, but Cella did not comply and made verbal threats to officers. Then officers believed Cella pointed a firearm at them. Additional officers responded to the scene.
At around 3:45 a.m., officers again observed Cella raising what was believed to be a firearm at officers. Six officers fired, striking Cella multiple times. EMS responded and transported him to an area hospital. Cella is currently in critical, but stable condition.
A butane torch was located at the scene and is believed to be the object Cella pointed at officers.
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 Wyandotte County District Attorney for determination of charges. The investigation is ongoing.
