FORD COUNTY – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the Ford County Sheriff’s Office, the Clark County Sheriff’s Office and the Kansas Highway Patrol released an update on the condition of law enforcement officers involved Tuesday evening in the Monday morning shooting in Dodge City.
Three deputies were killed and one Kansas Highway Patrol officer was injured in the fatal shooting.
The Ford County Sheriff’s Office asked the KBI to conduct an investigation at approximately 9:20 a.m. on Monday, January 23. KBI officers and the Crime Scene Response Team responded to investigate.
Preliminary information indicates that Clark County Sheriff’s Office deputies observed a blue Toyota Tundra driving through Minneola. The Tundra matched the description of a vehicle linked to a double homicide in Phoenix, Arizona. When deputies initiated a traffic stop, the female driver and her male passenger, who was later identified as Leroy D. Malone, 39, of Phoenix, Arizona. , fled, resulting in a vehicle chase.
The vehicles headed north on US 283 into Ford County, where deputies from the Ford County Sheriff’s Office and the KHP joined the pursuit. Deputies and soldiers deployed stop sticks to try to slow the truck, and a Clark County Sheriff’s Office deputy used a shunting maneuver to force the truck into the ditch.
After the vehicle stopped east of the intersection of US 50 and 113 Roads in Dodge City, gunfire was exchanged. Deputies from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office and the Ford County Sheriff’s Office unloaded their firearms. A handgun was recovered from inside the truck.
Leroy Malone was shot multiple times and was pronounced dead at the scene. The female subject received multiple gunshot wounds and was transported to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita where she was in critical condition. She is improving on Tuesday, but she continues to be treated for serious injuries.
Two deputies from the Ford County Sheriff’s Office were shot. One officer was transported to a Wichita hospital with serious gunshot wounds. He had surgery on Tuesday. He is improving and is currently in good condition. The second officer was treated for shrapnel wounds and was released from an area hospital.
The Clark County Sheriff’s Office deputy was released from the hospital on Tuesday and is now recovering at home.
A KHP soldier was bitten by a police K-9 during the shootout. He underwent surgery and is now recovering at home.
The sheriff’s officers involved in the shooting are all on paid administrative leave pending further investigations, which are ongoing.
