MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
The Reno County District Attorney has concluded that two Hutchinson police officers were legally justified in their use of deadly force during the June 7 shooting that killed 30-year-old Jonathan T. Lawrence, determining no criminal charges will be filed against the officers.
District Attorney Thomas Stanton announced Friday that his office completed its review following an investigation by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation into the officer-involved shooting at a residence in the 3300 block of Dartmouth Road in Hutchinson. The review focused solely on whether the officers violated Kansas criminal law.
According to the report, the incident began around 5 p.m. after a Hutchinson police officer responded to a reported theft at the Kwik Shop at 1330 E. 30th Avenue in Hutchinson. Store employees told police a man had taken a case of beer after being informed that Sunday alcohol sales were prohibited under local law. The clerk also reported the man grabbed her wrist before leaving with the beer.
A witness photographed the suspect vehicle's license plate, which led officers to a residence on Dartmouth Road. Officers contacted a woman at the home, who brought Lawrence from the basement to speak with police in the garage. According to the report, Lawrence admitted the officers were likely there because of "beer from the gas station" and told officers he had been self-medicating with alcohol.
During the encounter, officers observed what appeared to be the grip of a handgun protruding from Lawrence's pocket. Lawrence acknowledged he was armed. The district attorney said officers attempted to remove the firearm for safety, but Lawrence resisted, threw a beer at the officers and retreated into the garage. Officers then deployed Tasers in an attempt to subdue him.
The confrontation continued into the basement, where investigators said Lawrence regained control of his 9 mm handgun after it fell to the floor during the struggle. According to the report, Lawrence began turning the weapon toward an officer, prompting the second officer to fire 10 rounds. Eight of those rounds struck Lawrence, who was later pronounced dead at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center. Investigators recovered the loaded handgun, which contained a round in the chamber, along with an additional extended magazine.
In his legal analysis, Stanton cited Kansas self-defense statutes and laws governing law enforcement's use of force during arrests. He concluded the officers reasonably believed deadly force was necessary to protect themselves from imminent death or great bodily harm after Lawrence regained possession of the firearm during the struggle.
The district attorney also concluded Lawrence committed multiple offenses during the incident, including assault and aggravated assault of law enforcement officers. Stanton wrote that officers initially intended to investigate the reported theft and issue a citation if appropriate, but the situation escalated when Lawrence resisted efforts to disarm him and attempted to point the firearm at an officer.
"The Hutchinson Police Officers' actions in this matter were legally justified," Stanton wrote. "It is my conclusion that the officers are absolved from any wrongdoing."