A 12-year veteran of the Sedgwick County (KS) Sheriff’s Office was shot and killed Sunday while responding to a suspicious character call, Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter said during a Sunday evening news conference. A second person, the suspect, was also killed.
Kansas Deputy Shot and Killed on Suspicious Person Call
When Kunze arrived at about 1:42 p.m. Sunday, he saw a person who matched the description of the suspicious character, Easter said. Then, at about 1:48 p.m., Kunze “activated the emergency button on his portable radio,” the sheriff’s office said.
September 17, 2018
Deputy Robert Kunze of the Sedgwick County (KS) Sheriff’s Office was killed in a exchange of fire with a suspicious person Sunday. The suspect was also killed. (Photo: Sedgwick County SO)
Deputy Robert Kunze was called at around 1:18 p.m. to an area just north of Garden Plain and about 20 miles west of downtown Wichita.
When Kunze arrived at about 1:42 p.m. Sunday, he saw a person who matched the description of the suspicious character, Easter said. Then, at about 1:48 p.m., Kunze “activated the emergency button on his portable radio,” the sheriff’s office said.
Another deputy responded and found both Kunze and the male suspect on the ground, Easter told Kansas.com .
Kunze was taken to Via Christi Hospital St. Francis by ambulance and pronounced dead at around 2:55 p.m.