Kansas City, Kansas – KBI Investigates Fatal Officer-Involved Shooting Following Armed Confrontation
KANSAS CITY, KS — The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) has launched an independent probe into a fatal officer-involved shooting that occurred Friday afternoon, August 8, 2025, in Kansas City, Kansas. The incident unfolded after police responded to reports of an armed suspect inside a business, culminating in a tense and deadly confrontation outside the store.
According to preliminary reports provided by the KBI, the sequence of events began at approximately 2:49 p.m. when a man later identified as Paul Beasley Jr., 24, of Kansas City, Kansas, entered a business located at 8301 State Avenue. Beasley reportedly pointed a firearm at the cashier and demanded that they call 911 to report a robbery in progress.
Within a minute of that call, at approximately 2:50 p.m., a Kansas City, Kansas Police Department (KCKPD) officer arrived on the scene and encountered Beasley inside the store. The officer observed that Beasley was armed, prompting the officer to retreat outside in an attempt to de-escalate the situation. However, Beasley followed the officer out of the building, where multiple police units had already responded.
At that point, an armed confrontation took place. Authorities say five officers discharged their firearms during the exchange, striking Beasley. Officers immediately rendered emergency aid until EMS personnel arrived, but Beasley was later pronounced deceased at a local hospital. No law enforcement officers were physically injured during the incident.
The KBI Crime Scene Response Team (CSRT) and KBI agents were dispatched to the location shortly after 3:10 p.m. to begin collecting evidence, interviewing witnesses, and documenting the scene. Investigators are reviewing surveillance footage, body-worn camera recordings, and statements from officers, store employees, and bystanders to piece together the moments leading up to the shooting.
Officials have emphasized that the current account of events is based on early evidence and preliminary witness statements, and does not represent the final findings of the investigation. These comprehensive results — which will include forensic analysis, detailed incident timelines, and official determinations — are expected to take several weeks to complete.
Once the investigation is concluded, the case findings will be forwarded to the Wyandotte County District Attorney for review and a decision on whether any criminal charges are warranted.
The KBI has reiterated its commitment to transparency in police use-of-force cases, promising to release updates as new verified details emerge. The agency has also encouraged any additional witnesses who have not yet spoken to investigators to come forward.
For now, the community of Kansas City, Kansas, is left with questions about the circumstances that brought an armed suspect and responding officers into such a deadly encounter — questions the KBI hopes to answer through a thorough and impartial investigation.
