Kansas Officer Critically Wounded During Welfare Check

A Wichita, KS, police officer was shot twice with a rifle and critically wounded Saturday during a check welfare call. He is now reportedly stable at an area hospital.

The suspect, identified by authorities as Tyler Hodge, was killed in an exchange of fire with officers. He died at the scene, Kansas.com reports.

Officers responded to a welfare check call around 10:15 p.m. Two officers arrived at the home where “two females” were inside the house when a suspect inside an out building at the home started shooting at the officers, Capt. Wendell Nicholson said.

The suspect continued shooting as other officers arrived, Nicholson said. Police report he fired 18 rounds striking the wounded officer, police vehicles, and neighborhood homes.

Police found out after the shooting that Hodge had previously made statements alluding to a desire to die by police-assisted suicide, Capt. Jason Stevens said.