News Flash

JCPAO Press Releases

Posted on: June 1, 2022

A KCK woman, 26, charged for exhibiting a weapon in encounter Friday with police

For Immediate Release
June 1, 2022

A 26-year-old Kansas City woman has been charged with exhibiting a weapon in her encounter Friday evening with Kansas City police officers, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced  today.

Leonna M. Hale, dob: 1/6/1996, faces Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Unlawful Use of a Weapon and the misdemeanor of Resisting A Lawful Detention.*

According to court records filed today, Kansas City police responded on the evening of May 27, 2022, to 6th and Prospect Avenue in Kansas City regarding a vehicle involved in a robbery in Kansas City, Kan. The officers located the vehicle at Family Dollar, 634 Prospect Avenue. Officers conducted a car check. A male driver exited and ran from the scene. Two officers gave chase. A second occupant, the defendant, exited the passenger side and went to the rear of the vehicle. Officers attempted to give her commands. They determined she was armed and stated that she pointed a firearm at them and they discharged their firearms at her. Video surveillance from body cameras showed Hale being told to drop the firearm and pointing it at the officers before the officers fired three shots. One officer told investigators she feared that Hale was going to shoot her and she discharged her firearm one time. A second officer also told investigators that he believed the defendant had a firearm pointed at him. Hale was taken to an area hospital for treatment.

Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker issued the following statement today:

Some false narratives about what happened last Friday night at 6th and Prospect Avenue, unfortunately, were relied upon by some media and other sources. Our job, as prosecutors, is to remain neutral and review all evidence. Our review of body cam videos provided the actual accounting of events that night. 

Our review of the investigation revealed the defendant, although she denied having a weapon at the time of the encounter with law enforcement officers, continually displayed a weapon during her encounter with police officers and also appeared to be attempting to flee. The two officers stated that she was armed with what they believed to be a handgun. Body camera footage confirms the officers’ statements that Hale was holding a handgun.  Still photos, taken from body cam footage, of this encounter also demonstrate a weapon was present and in the hands of the defendant. 

Click here for an image captured from body cams of one of the officers involved in the 6th  and Prospect incident last Friday.

For more information, contact:

Michael Mansur

Director of Communication
Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office
Jean Peters Baker, Prosecutor
Work : (816) 881-3812
Mobile : (816) 674-3954
www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com
mmansur@jacksongov.org

*Charges are only accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until the defendant is either found guilty or has pleaded guilty.

Charging Document(s)
Facebook Twitter Email

Other News in JCPAO Press Releases

KC man charged in April 30 homicide in KC

Posted on: September 29, 2017

16-year-old KC teen charged in 2016 murder

Posted on: December 23, 2016

KC man charged in Midtown carjacking

Posted on: November 4, 2016

KC man charged in rape of 14-year-old girl

Posted on: September 15, 2016

Charges in Grandview robbery

Posted on: April 20, 2016

Guilty plea in child death case

Posted on: April 13, 2016

KC man charged in KC car chase

Posted on: April 8, 2016

Police officer’s conviction upheld

Posted on: April 5, 2016

Charges filed in fatal KC shooting

Posted on: April 1, 2016

Charges filed in Independence murder

Posted on: March 31, 2016

Independence eluding leads to charges

Posted on: March 11, 2016

Sexual assault of 15-year-old

Posted on: March 9, 2016

Charges in weekend chase, crash

Posted on: March 6, 2016

Sword-wielding man leads police on chase

Posted on: February 25, 2016

Charges in Monday shooting

Posted on: February 24, 2016

Two charged in double homicide

Posted on: February 3, 2016

Manslaughter charges filed in 2015 wreck

Posted on: January 25, 2016

One charged in KC rape

Posted on: January 22, 2016

Charges in Jan. 9 gun slaying

Posted on: January 15, 2016

Messina honored by KCMBA

Posted on: January 8, 2016

Charges in Independence murder

Posted on: January 8, 2016

Charges in Grandview hit-and-run

Posted on: December 30, 2015

Solar energy theft involved area churches

Posted on: December 16, 2015