Kansas Officer Shot and Killed is Identified

Kansas Officer Shot and Killed is Identified
This undated photo provided by the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department show police Captain Robert Melton. A suspect in a drive-by shooting fatally shot Melton on Tuesday, July 19, 2016, as the officer was sitting in his patrol car, police said. Kansas City, Kan. Police Department via AP
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KANSAS CITY, Kan.  — A Kansas City, Kansas, police officer was shot and killed while searching for a suspect in a drive-by shooting, police said.

Capt. Robert Melton was searching for the suspect when he drove up to someone who matched that person’s description just before 2 p.m. Tuesday, police spokesman Tom Tomasic said. Before Melton could get out of his vehicle, the person opened fire, hitting the officer multiple times, Tomasic said. The alleged shooter was caught five minutes later about a block away, he said.

A police spokeswoman said the suspect was being questioned Tuesday evening along with another person suspected in the initial drive-by shooting. Police weren’t releasing the suspects’ names because charges hadn’t been filed. A news conference was planned for Wednesday morning.

A third person who had been taken into custody was determined not to have been involved and was released, police said.