For Immediate Release:
August 10, 2019
Three Kansas City men are in custody after being charged with Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer after approximately 25 shots were fired at a KCPD uniformed officer in his marked patrol vehicle.
Darryl Nichols (25), Michael Fleming (18), and Ruhwan Johnson (18), each have been charged with one count of the A Felony Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer, one count Unlawful Use of a Weapon, two counts Armed Criminal Action, and one count Resisting a Lawful Stop according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.*
According to court records, after the officer performed surveillance for a few minutes on the suspect vehicle, the officer attempted to stop the suspect vehicle for expired temporary license tags. After a brief hesitation, the suspect vehicle took off again, gaining speeds of approximately 100 mph; the suspects fired shots from the fleeing vehicle while the officer attempted to perform his duties. Most shots were fired from the suspect vehicle through residential neighborhoods. The officer continued the pursuit of the suspect vehicle through the city and other officers were able to stop the vehicle through a vehicular pit maneuver. Evidence recovered from the pursued vehicle included two handguns and a high-powered rifle along with the three charged suspects in the case.
The officer never returned fire in this incident. Though the investigation continues, at this time, over 20 shell casings were recovered from the path of the suspect vehicle, including .40 caliber and 5.56 caliber.
The officer and no other innocent bystanders were struck by the gunfire, though, it is believed that multiple vehicles were struck by the suspects’ firepower.
In a statement, Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker said, “The community and the prosecutor’s office is grateful for the officer’s steady demeanor during the entirety of this criminal incident and that the suspects were apprehended without harm. It is a credit to the officer and his training that no one was further harmed by the behavior of the suspects.”
Prosecutors have requested a $250,000 cash bond on each defendant.
Please see attached documents.
For additional information, contact:
Jared D. Bustamante
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office
Jean Peters Baker, Prosecutor
P: 816.881.3538
F: 816.674.3954
jbustamante@jacksongov.org
*Charges are only accusations and the defendant(s) are presumed innocent unless and until the defendant(s) are either found guilty or have pleaded guilty.