Prosecutor: Police justify killing of robbery suspect at gas station in February

SHAWNEE, Kansas (KCTV) – A police officer who shot a man during an alleged gas station robbery in February was justified in doing so, prosecutors said.

On Feb. 19, law enforcement said Brett Smiley, 43, attempted to rob the QuikTrip at 20605 Shawnee Mission Parkway and take people hostage, Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe said Monday.

Howe said Smiley fired his gun inside the store but did not injure anyone. When he was inside the gas station and displayed a firearm, officers ordered him to drop his weapon. An officer then fired his weapon, striking Smiley.

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The robbery suspect was taken to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Officers learned that Smiley had previously shown up naked at a Hardee’s in Olathe with a knife and asked employees to hurt him with it. Smiley also had methamphetamine in his system, Howe said, and had been screaming incoherently during the robbery.

Editor’s note: This story is being updated.

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