An Independence Police officer and a court employee were shot and killed Thursday while serving an eviction.
The shooter first shot Jackson County Circuit Court process server Drexel Mack at around 1 p.m. before police were called to the scene.
Responding officers were met with gunfire as they tended to Mack. One of them, 35-year-old Officer Cody Allen, was fatally struck.
The suspect was eventually arrested and hospitalized with minor injuries.
The fallen officer was a longtime member of law enforcement while Mack worked for Jackson County courts for 12 years.
“[Allen] was the guy that when you go on a call, you knew he was gonna be there. He could defuse things at a moment’s notice. He was right there to back you up,” Chief Adam Dustman said.
The 16th Judicial Circuit Court Presiding Judge Jalilah Otto mourned the loss of a “public servant” who was killed while “performing their job.”
“Our hearts are heavy, and our thoughts are with our employee, our entire Court family, and the Independence Police Department.”
