LEAVENWORTH COUNTY—A suspect wounded in an officer-involved shooting is now in a Kansas jail.
Just before 5p.m. Wednesday, Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) agents arrested 31-year-old Donald Barden Jr., of Leavenworth, as he was discharged from the University of Kansas Rehabilitation Center.
Just before 5 a.m. on February 13, a woman called 911 to report that a male acquaintance was near 4th Street and Miami Street in Leavenworth, and was armed with a handgun.
Preliminary information indicates that officers from the Leavenworth Police Department, the Lansing Police Department, and the Leavenworth County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area.
Upon arriving they located an armed man standing in the middle of the street at the intersection of 5th Street and Seneca Street. They blocked traffic and began to negotiate with the man, who was later identified as Donald Barden Jr., 31, of Leavenworth. From a distance, they attempted to convince him to drop his gun. During the incident Barden ignored commands, waved his gun around, and made suicidal statements.
At approximately 6:20 a.m., Barden ran toward officers while pointing his gun in their direction. One officer from the Leavenworth Police Department and one officer from the Lansing Police Department fired rounds toward Barden, striking him. At the same time, another officer from the Leavenworth Police Department fired bean bag rounds at Barden.
Officers then rendered aid to Barden. EMS, who had been waiting nearby during the incident, responded and took over life-saving measures. EMS transported Barden to the KU Medical Center in critical, but stable condition.
Barden is being held in the Leavenworth County Jail on requested charges that include three counts of aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer and one count of felon in possession of a firearm.
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