The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office has released new information on its investigation of the Wichita Police Department officer-involved shooting that occurred on July 31 near Central & Hillside in the east part of Wichita.
At 11:18 p.m., the sheriff’s office said two police officers saw a black Chevy Impala with an altered and expired tag leaving the area of a drug-trafficking complaint. The car, with three people inside, was stopped in the McDonald’s parking lot north of Central & Hillside. A man in the back seat, identified as 29-year-old Brennan Russell, was seen stuffing something under the seat. The officer ordered Russell out of the car, but he refused, leading to a struggle; the officers requested backup.
Sheriff Jeff Easter says the officer deployed his taser, Russell did not comply with commands, and it's still unclear as to whether the taser operated. Easter says Russell then reached into his right front pocket of his shorts, drew a gun, and pointed it at the officer.
Sheriff Easter says Russell then pointed his gun at his own head and fired, prior to the officer producing his handgun and firing five times into the car.
Additional officers arrived and performed CPR until EMS arrived; Russell died at the scene, and an autopsy is being performed.
Russell was hit by four bullets shot by the officer.
The investigation, once complete, will presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney for review.