May 01, 2021

Police release report on officer's shooting of Kan. teen

Posted May 01, 2021 1:00 AM
Police on the scene of the fatal 2018 shooting -photo courtesy KCTV
Police on the scene of the fatal 2018 shooting -photo courtesy KCTV

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — A newly released report says an Overland Park police officer fired at a minivan because he thought the teenager driver was going to hit him.

Officer Clayton Jennison told investigators that 17-year-old John Albers did not listen to his commands in the moments before Jennison shot and killed him in January 2018 as Albers backed out of his family's driveway.

Albers-photo courtesy McGilley Memorial Chapel
Albers-photo courtesy McGilley Memorial Chapel

Overland Park officials released a nearly 500-page report on the shooting Thursday. Jennison was not charged in the shooting and has left the police force. Albers' mother, who fought for years to get the report released, said she thought the investigation was aimed at clearing the officer and largely blamed her son for the shooting.

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OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — A group of faith leaders is seeking the resignation of Overland Park Police Chief Frank Donchez because of the department's response to the fatal shooting of a teenager in 2018.

The organization, called MORE2, on Monday said Donchez has misled the public since 17-year-old John Albers was shot by an officer in his family's driveway.

Albers' parents have criticized the department's lack of transparency in their son's shooting and in actions the department has taken since then. The department says it will release a redacted report this week that explains the investigation into the officer’s actions.