UPDATED 8:33 p.m. Wednesday with the following from the KBI:
Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) agents and the Crime Scene Response Team (CSRT) are investigating after an officer involved shooting occurred today in Salina, Kan.
On Wednesday, Aug. 28, at approximately 12:15 p.m., the Salina Police Department requested KBI assistance to investigate an officer involved shooting.
Preliminary information indicates that at around 11:30 a.m., a 911 call was received from a resident of 2092 Harold Ave. in Salina, requesting police because they thought someone was injured or dead inside the home.
When officers from the Salina Police Department arrived at the residence, they observed what they believed to be blood on the porch. They entered the residence and attempted to clear the house. On the first floor of the home, police discovered 71-year-old Linda Kromer who had been stabbed to death.
Officers heard noises from the basement and proceeded downstairs. They located a male subject, later identified as Jeremy Connolly, 28, in a basement bedroom where he had barricaded the door with objects. Officers could open the door partially, and saw that Connolly was armed with a large knife. Pepper spray was deployed into the room, and repeated commands were given for him to drop the knife. Connolly advanced toward the officers while still holding the knife. Two officers from the Salina Police Department fired at him, striking Connolly.
At the time of the shooting, five officers were in the basement. No officers were injured in this incident. EMS responded and Connolly was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later. EMS pronounced Kromer deceased at the scene. Connolly was Kromer’s step-grandson. Connolly lived at the residence where the shooting took place, and Kromer lived next door.
The KBI will conduct a thorough and independent investigation into this incident. Once completed the findings will be presented to the Saline County Attorney for review. The investigation is ongoing. No further information will be released at this time.
UPDATED 6:16 p.m. Wednesday:
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) has released the names of the two people who died as a result of the incident on Harold Avenue Wednesday morning.
KBI Communications Director Melissa Underwood said that Salina Police received a 9-1-1 call from a family member of a resident of 2092 Harold. When officers arrived, they found what they believed to be blood on the porch of the home.
The officers made entry and as they were clearing the residence, they found a deceased female who Underwood identified as Linda Kromer, 71, who she said lived next door. Officers believed that Kromer had been stabbed to death, Underwood said.
As the officers continued clearing the residence, they heard noises coming from a room in the basement, Underwood said. Through a crack in a door, officers could see a man armed with a knife. They told the man to drop the knife and come out, at which time the man advanced on the officers and two officers fired, striking the man, Underwood said.
Underwood identified the man as 28-year-old Jeremy Connolly, who was Kromer’s step-grandson. Connolly was transported to Salina Regional Health Center, but died a short time later, Underwood said.
UPDATED 4:25 p.m Wednesday with a statement from Salina Police Chief Brad Nelson:
On 08/28/19 at 1134 hrs., officers of the Salina Police Department were dispatched to a call for service in the 2000 block of Harold Avenue. The caller believed that an individual inside the home had been injured.
Upon arrival, officers located what appeared to be blood on the front portion of the residence. Officers entered the home in an effort to locate anyone in distress. Officers located a recently deceased female inside and immediately began securing the home for any other victim(s) or suspect(s).
Shortly thereafter, officers located a male in the basement of the home. This male was armed with a knife. After a brief confrontation, the male who was still armed with the knife, was shot by two Salina Police officers.
This male was transported to Salina Regional Hospital and he was pronounced dead at 1248 hours.
This officer-involved shooting and death investigation has been turned over to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) who is presently on-scene.
Any future statements will be made by the KBI.
Brad L. Nelson
Chief of Police
By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY
Salina Post
A Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) Officer-Involved Shooting team is responding to a late morning incident in southwest Salina Wednesday.
Salina Police Captain Gary Hanus told media at the scene that officers were dispatched to the 2000 block of Harold Avenue for a welfare check.
“During the welfare check, they came upon a person who was armed. There was an officer-involved shooting. Per department policy, we’ve contacted the KBI. They are responding with their OIS team and they are taking over the investigation,” Hanus said.
One person was transported to Salina Regional Health Center, Hanus said. He could not say whether that person was an officer.
Hanus said there is no public safety issue.
Two KBI agents were already on scene, he said. Any additional information about the incident will come from the KBI, Hanus said.