A tragic incident unfolded in Independence, Missouri, as a police officer and a civil process server lost their lives in a shooting, authorities confirmed on Thursday. The Independence Police Department received a distressing call at 1:09 p.m. local time, reporting that a civil process server working with the Jackson County Circuit Court had been shot. Simultaneously, another call came in from a neighbor, alerting the authorities that an officer had also been shot, according to a statement from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Upon arriving at the scene, multiple police officers were met with gunfire, resulting in three officers being shot. The injured officers, along with the civil process server, were swiftly transported to a local hospital for treatment. The suspect responsible for the shooting was promptly taken into custody and received medical attention for minor injuries.
Tragically, one of the officers, identified as Cody Allen, and the process server, identified as Drexel Mack, succumbed to their injuries, as confirmed by the police. Another officer who sustained gunshot wounds underwent surgery and is expected to recover fully, while the third officer was treated for minor injuries, stated Independence Police Department chief Adam Dustman.
Allen, aged 35, leaves behind a wife and two children. Dustman shared that Allen had briefly left the police force for another job but eventually returned to the Independence Police Department approximately two years ago, realizing that law enforcement was an integral part of his identity.
Meanwhile, Mack was in the midst of serving an eviction notice when he was tragically shot. Having served with the Jackson County Circuit Court for over 12 years, the presiding judge, Judge Jalilah Otto, described Mack as a dedicated public servant in his early 40s who was engaged to be married and had adult children.
The suspect involved in the shooting remains unidentified, and the circumstances leading to the attempted eviction are yet to be disclosed. The incident prompted an outpouring of support from local officials, with Mayor Quinton Lucas of Kansas City expressing condolences and solidarity with law enforcement officers.
The community of Independence, located just 25 minutes from Kansas City, was rattled by the tragic events, prompting nearby schools to be placed on lockdown briefly. As the investigation unfolds, the residents of Independence mourn the loss of two individuals who dedicated their lives to serving and protecting the community..
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