Categories: Kansas News

Man charged with capital murder in death of KCK Police Officer Hunter Simoncic

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Dennis Edward Mitchell III, the man accused of striking and killing Kansas City, Kansas Police Officer Hunter Simoncic with a car while trying to evade police on Tuesday, has been formally charged with capital murder, according to Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark Dupree.
In a news conference Wednesday afternoon, Dupree announced that
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Mitchell, 31
, is facing one count of capital murder, one count of fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, two counts of theft and one count of criminal possession of a weapon.

According to initial reporting, at about 12:30 a.m. Tuesday, officers with KCKPD were called to the area of North 77th Street and Everett Avenue on reports of sounds of gunfire.

When officers arrived, they found an armed man, later identified as Mitchell, inside a truck. As KCKPD approached the truck, he fled the scene.

According to the KBI, during the chase, Mitchell allegedly pulled over the truck, abandoned it and then entered another car before continuing to drive away from police. KBI later discovered both vehicles were reported stolen.

As the chase ensued, Simoncic was attempting to deploy stop sticks a few blocks away.

However, Mitchell is accused of driving toward the officer and over the median, hitting Simoncic before leaving the scene.

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Scene where a kansas city, kansas, police officer was hit during a chase near 75th and state avenue

According to police, Mitchell ended up crashing a few blocks away and was subsequently arrested and taken to a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. After receiving treatment, he was taken to the Wyandotte County jail, where he was held on suspicion of multiple criminal charges.

By Wednesday, he was formally charged by the county.

Following the crash, Officer Simoncic was taken to the KU Medical Center for treatment, but later died from his injuries, police said in a news conference Tuesday morning. He was 26 years old and had joined KCKPD in November 2023.

KCKPD announced on Wednesday that a candlelight vigil will be held in his honor on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. outside of the Unified Government Municipal Building.

At this time, KBI is leading the investigation.

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