The 34 -year -old Kansas sheriff deputy was killed on Saturday when he was shot while responding to a call of domestic violence, authorities said.
The deputy of the Wyandotte County Sheriff, Elijah Ming, was shot dead when he approached a house in Kansas City, Kansas, after a woman, worried about her own safety, asked a deputy to accompany her when she moved from the residence, the officials said. Before the shooting, the woman informed the police that a man with a weapon inside the house had already threatened her friends when she tried to move for the first time, according to the officials.
“Deputy Ming gave his life serving Wyandotte County and all his residents,” said the Wyandotte County Sheriff, Daniel Soptic, at a press conference on Saturday, and pointed out that Ming was a 9 -year -old veteran from the Wyandotte County Sheriff’s office.
The deputy of the Sheriff of Wyandotte County, 34 -year -old Elijah Ming, was shot dead on July 26, 2025 by an armed man while responding to a call of domestic violence in Kansas City, Kansas, authorities said.
Wyandotte County Sheriff Office
The shooting occurred around 3:45 pm on Saturday in southwest Kansas City, according to Chief Karl Oakman of the Kansas City Police Department.
Deputy Ming and an officer of the Kansas City Police Department went to the house to help women move when a man opened fire without prior notice, hitting Ming, Oakman said. Kansas City police officer was not injured, he said.
Other officers ran to the house upon learning of the shooting, according to Oakman.
“While the Kansas City Police Department responded, Kansas, the individual continued shooting at the officers who responded, who then returned the fire,” Oakman said.
Oakman said the suspect, later identified by the police as Shawn Harris, 38, was injured in the shooting and retired back to the house, where he closed.
Police negotiators spent approximately one hour talking to Harris on the phone before he surrendered, Oakman said.
Harris was taken to a hospital to be treated, said Oakman, and was included in good condition from Saturday night.
After visiting Ming’s family at the hospital, the mayor of Kansas City, Tyrone Gardner, requested that the community pray for them. “There are no words or comfort that can relieve the pain of losing someone who loves meaningless violence,” Gardner said.
The Kansas Research Office is leading the investigation into the shooting and will present its findings to the Wyandotte County District Office to decide which positions to present against the suspect, according to the officials.
