KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement and fire investigators found the body of a man after a standoff and fire at a home in Kansas City.
On Thursday afternoon police were called to a house in the 11500 block of N. Cherry on a concern of a suicidal person, according t KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.
The caller was not at the residence but was concerned about a man who was inside the home and they believed he was suicidal based on contact they had with him.
Responding officers made verbal contact with a man inside the residence from a distance. They attempted to get him to come outside to check his well-being. After a short time officers heard the sound of several rounds of gunfire coming from inside the residence. Officers backed away to protect those in the surrounding area and prevent any escape. They continued to try to make contact with the man to get him to come outside with negative result.
All indications are the man was inside the residence alone. Based on the shots being fired and the potential of danger to the surrounding area Officers called for an Operation 100 / Police Stand-off to bring additional resources and trained negotiators to the scene, according to Becchina.
Tactical officers with rescue vehicles worked to evacuate surrounding residents and a nearby school was placed on lock and teach. School staff and Clay County Sheriff’s Office Deputies worked to arrange for safe school departure for the students. Officers continued to hear the sound of gunfire from inside the residence.
Just after 4:30 pm officers reported seeing a small fire coming from inside the residence. The fire slowly spread and negotiators continued to make attempts to contact the man and get him to come out. Tactical officers helped arrange for fire personnel to safely deploy water onto the house from a safe distance away in an attempt to extinguish the fire.
As the house remained on fire, officers attempted to use KCFD and KCPD drone technology to get an overview of the scene.
At approximately 8:45 pm officers used robot video and drone video and approached the rear of the residence and cleared the back yard and an out-building in the rear of the residence. Officers didn’t locate the man in that area.
Fire crews moved in closer to the house to more aggressively deploy water to fight the fire. As KCFD began closer and more aggressive efforts to extinguish the fire they located the man deceased inside the front of the residence, according to Becchina. Police have not released his name.