KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Charges will not be brought against a Lenexa police officer who fired at a suspect, hitting him in the arm, after the Johnson County District Attorney’s Office found the shooting to be justified.
District Attorney Steve Howe said Wednesday that his office completed its review of the Nov. 23 officer-involved shooting and determined that the officer’s use of force against 25-year-old Tevin White was justified.
“Under the totality of the circumstances, it was reasonable for the Lenexa officer to conclude that it was necessary to shoot at Tevin White in order to stop an imminent threat to his life,” Howe wrote in a summary of his findings. “This is true when considering that he had literally seconds to make a life or death decision, as is the standard in these cases."
According to Howe, White struck the side of the officer's police car while driving a Chevrolet Impala and revved the vehicle's engine, turning "right toward the officer," when the officer attempted to approach the Impala.
Police said they were investigating the Impala as a "suspicious vehicle" at the time of the incident.
The officer told investigators that he believed he was about to be run over and feared for his life. He said he shot to stop the threat against his life, according to Howe.
The officer suffered a minor injury when the car struck him.
White was charged with two counts of aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer with contact and a weapon.
