There were reports of firing around the Independence House.
A police officer and a court employee were shot and killed Thursday during an evacuation at a home in Independence, Missouri — about an hour from Kansas City — according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
During a press conference Thursday night, Justin Ewing of the Missouri State Highway Patrol confirmed that four people were shot in the incident — three officers from the Independence Police Department and a civil process server from Jackson County Circuit Court.
The police chief identified the slain as Independence Police Officer Cody Allen and court employee Drexel Mack. The two other officers who were shot are recovering from their injuries, the chief said.
At 1:09 p.m. local time, a civil process server from Jackson County Circuit Court received the first calls from the scene that shots had been fired at the residence, Ewing said. Although no officers were with them at the time, several other process servers were also at the scene, officials said.
After a call for immediate assistance, officers from the Independence Police Department arrived and were shot, Ewing said.
Ewing confirmed that a male suspect was taken into custody and taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
The Independence Police Department had previously confirmed that two officers were taken from an apartment with gunshot wounds.
Posted by Missouri Governor Mike Parsons A report on X as the situation unfolds Confirming that the officers were shot and injured.
“Theresa and I are praying for the @IndepMoPolice officers involved and all who work to protect us,” Parson said.
Parsons confirmed that Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers were assisting Independence police.
— ABC News' Darren Reynolds, Victoria Arancio and Matt Foster contributed to this report.
