SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a fatal officer shooting in Topeka.
Just before 6a.m. Thursday, a police officer responded to investigate a disabled vehicle in the 500 Block of South Kansas Avenue in Topeka, according to a media release.
At 6:25a.m. the day shift officer arrived to take over watch of the vehicle while waiting for it to be towed from the road.
Just after 7a.m., the officer noticed another vehicle driving erratically crash into a curb nearby. A woman exited the vehicle armed with a knife. The woman with the knife rant toward a bystander. The officer on scene gave commands for her to drop the knife. She briefly dropped the knife and then pickup it up and ran toward the bystander.
After disobeying commands from the police officer to drop the knife. The woman ran into the Townsite Tower building, 504 South Kansas Avenue and threatened another individual with the knife. The officer discharged their weapon and struck the suspect.
First aid was rendered but she was pronounced deceased at the scene. No officers were injured in the incident. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is in charge of the investigation.
Preliminary information indicates there is no known connection between the woman, the person working on the disabled vehicle or the bystander inside the building.
The Topeka police officer has been placed on administrative leave. Police have not released the name of the woman who died.