Prosecutor Says Shooting Was Justified
Platte County Prosecutor Eric Zahnd announced January 14 that his office has determined Kansas City police officers used justifiable force when they shot a woman who pointed a shotgun at them on May 26, 2007. Cheryl Creason, 57, of Kansas City, died as a result of her wounds, which came after police were called to her home by a neighbor.
“I have carefully reviewed the facts and circumstances of this shooting,” Zahnd said. “It is my opinion that the actions of the officers involved were reasonable and justified.”
Police were called to 8124 NW Delta Avenue the evening May 26, 2007 after a neighbor said Creason was standing in her yard with a shotgun. When police arrived, Creason had reentered her home. Police asked Creason to come out of her house, but she did not respond.
The Kansas City Police Department Tactical Unit was called to the scene as part of an “Operation 100” stand-off. Officers saw Creason gesturing wildly inside the house and apparently talking on a telephone. She had a shotgun in her hands.
Creason later left her house with the shotgun. Officers directed her to put her hands up, but Creason refused. She put the weapon down for a short time. She then picked it up again and officers repeatedly commanded her to put down her weapon.
Creason then began walking quickly toward officers and raised her weapon toward them. She was then shot and killed by police.
Zahnd said, “It is always tragic when someone dies during police activities. However, the facts show that Ms. Creason failed to obey repeated commands of the officers to drop her weapon. She then began to walk quickly toward officers and pointed her shotgun at those officers. Under those circumstances, the officers’ actions in shooting and killing Ms. Creason were justifiable.”