KBI Investigating Officer-Involved Shooting In Saline County

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating an officer involved shooting that occurred Tuesday night in Saline County.

The Saline County Sheriff’s Office requested KBI assistance at approximately 6:10 p.m. to investigate an officer involved shooting that had just occurred. KBI agents and the Crime Scene Response Team responded.

Preliminary information indicates that on Tuesday, Feb. 5, at approximately 5:10 p.m., the Salina Police Department responded to the report of an armed carjacking near 9th St. and Schilling Rd. in Salina. The carjacking suspect, who was later identified as 24-year-old Colt F. Wright, of Derby, is alleged to have taken a 2010 Jeep Wrangler at gunpoint.

A short time later, Wright struck a Salina Police Department vehicle with the Jeep in an attempt to elude officers. Then, officers from the Salina Police Department, and deputies from the Saline County Sheriff’s Office began pursuing the suspect. During the pursuit, Wright shot at law enforcement officers from both the Saline County Sheriff’s Office and Salina Police Department who were chasing the fleeing suspect in their agency vehicles. A deputy from the Saline County Sheriff’s Office was wounded when debris from a round striking the vehicle injured his face.

Police continued to pursue Wright until he lost control of his vehicle near Whitmore Rd. and Country Club Rd. in rural Saline County. Soon after he crashed, Wright exchanged gunfire with police. One sheriff’s deputy and one police officer fired their weapons. The suspect was struck by gunfire during the exchange. No law enforcement officers were hit by gunfire.

EMS responded and Wright was transported to Salina Regional Hospital where he underwent surgery. The Saline County sheriff’s deputy was also taken to Salina Regional for treatment of his injury.

The KBI will complete a thorough and independent investigation into this incident. Once the investigation is completed, the findings will be turned over to the Saline County Attorney for review.

The investigation is ongoing.