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KANSAS CITY, Kan. (BFMG) — A Wyandotte County sheriff’s deputy was shot and killed Saturday, July 26, while responding to a domestic disturbance, authorities confirmed.
Deputy Elijah Ming, 34, died in the line of duty after being shot outside a residence in the 2600 block of S. 30th Street in Kansas City, Kansas. He had served with the sheriff’s office for nearly nine years.
According to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, a woman called police shortly before 3:30 p.m. Saturday requesting assistance while moving out of a home. She told dispatchers that a man had threatened her with a gun when she and her friends attempted to retrieve her belongings.
Deputy Ming and a Kansas City, Kansas, police officer responded to the scene at approximately 3:45 p.m. As the two approached the home, a man inside allegedly opened fire. The officer was not injured, but Deputy Ming was struck.
The suspect, identified by KBI as 38-year-old Shawn Harris, barricaded himself inside the home for about an hour. After negotiating with law enforcement by phone, Harris surrendered around 5 p.m. He was treated for a gunshot wound at a nearby hospital and released the following day.
Harris was taken into custody and booked into the Johnson County Jail on suspicion of capital murder of a law enforcement officer. Formal charges are pending. KBI is leading the investigation.
Sheriff Daniel Soptic described Ming as a “loved member” of the department.
“Deputy Ming gave his life serving Wyandotte County and all of its residents,” Soptic said in a statement. “Please pray for the Ming family, our office, and the entire community during this tragic time.”
Kansas City, Kansas, Mayor Tyrone Garner also addressed the tragedy, calling the incident “senseless” and “unnecessary.”
“To say that Saturday has been the hardest day for me as the mayor of Kansas City, Kansas Unified Government is an understatement,” Garner said. “This is truly a painful moment for Wyandotte County.”
Garner visited Ming’s family at the hospital following the shooting. “There are no words of comfort that can ever ease the pain of losing someone you love to senseless violence,” he said.
The Kansas City Metropolitan Crime Commission has issued a $40,000 check to Ming’s family through the Surviving Spouse and Family Endowment Fund (SAFE), which provides financial support to the families of first responders who die in the line of duty.
Harris has an extensive criminal history in Wyandotte County and previously served over a decade in the Kansas Department of Corrections. His convictions include theft, attempted aggravated battery, and aggravated battery, with his most recent prison release occurring in December 2024.
Deputy Ming’s death marks a solemn moment for law enforcement and the community. Officials continue to mourn the loss while honoring his service and sacrifice.
