Suspect Involved In Shooting Of 3 Kansas Cops Released From Missouri Jail By Mistake

Platte City, MO – One of several suspects accused of shooting three Kansas City, Kansas police officers during an undercover drug bust earlier this month was somehow mistakenly released from jail late last week and remains on the loose.

Jae’veon Marquice Mitchell-Locke, 21, is facing charges of attempted capital murder, three counts of criminal discharge of a firearm at an occupied building or vehicle, three counts of aggravated battery against a law enforcement officer, three counts of aggravated endangering of a child, distribution or possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, and aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer, KCTV reported.

Two other suspects, Samarion Ardel England and Cornell Jones, are facing the same charges.

Officials said Mitchell-Locke was being housed at the Platte County Jail in Missouri on unrelated misdemeanor charges when he was invertedly released from custody the evening of April 20, according to KMBC.

The detention facility didn’t realize the mistake until the following morning, KCTV reported.

“It’s premature for me to say how it occurred or why it occurred, but we are going to look into it and take appropriate action to ensure it doesn’t happen again,” Platte County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) Major Erik Holland told KMBC. “There are processes in place to prevent somebody that has outstanding warrants or holds from other agencies from being released.”

The PCSO has launched an investigation into how and why Mitchell-Locke was allowed to walk out of jail and officials said they are working to make sure such mistakes are avoided in the future, KMBC reported.

“We will take appropriate action once we determine what occurred,” Maj. Holland said. “Our primary focus right now is locating Mr. Locke and getting him back into custody.”

Mitchell-Locke is now the focus of a multiagency manhunt.

“His release was unfortunate, but we are working with the Platte County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Marshals to locate and take Jaeveon Mitchell-Locke into custody,” Kansas City, Kansas Police Chief Karl Oakman told KMBC. “He is a dangerous individual who needs to be taken off the streets. If anyone encounters him, they should assume that he is armed and dangerous and immediately call 911.”

The shootout occurred at approximately 3:17 a.m. on April 5, when undercover officers with the Kansas City Kansas Police Department (KCKPD) Narcotics Unit went to purchase fentanyl from a group of individuals in the 1800-block of Wood Avenue, KSHB reported.

Chief Oakman said the officers had already purchased fentanyl from the same dealers earlier that week.

But when they went to make the second buy, something went wrong and a gunbattle erupted, KSHB reported.

Chief Oakman said the alleged dealers were “heavily armed.”

Three officers were shot during the exchange of gunfire, as were three male suspects, KSHB reported.

The wounded officers were all transported to the hospital for treatment and have since been released to continue their recoveries at home.

Mitchell-Locke, Jones, and England were also transported to a hospital for treatment of their gunshot wounds, KCTV reported.

Jones was booked into the Wyandotte County Jail on April 5, and England was booked into the same facility on April 11.

Mitchell-Locke was transported to a nearby hospital in Jackson County, Missouri, which resulted in him being placed into the state of Missouri’s custody, KCTV reported.

As a result, he needed to be extradited from Missouri in order to be returned to Kansas City, Kansas.

Since he had outstanding warrants out of Platte County, Missouri, Jackson County officials transferred him there to take care of that matter prior to the extradition, KCTV reported.

“Traditionally what will happen is if someone’s taken into custody in the state of Missouri, if they have charges in the state of Kansas, we traditionally have all the charges in the state of Missouri taken care of prior to transferring them,” Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) Captain Rhonda Montgomery told KCTV.

Mitchell-Locke was moved to Platte County at 2:51 p.m. on April 20.

Although he should have been held pending extradition back to Kansas, he was inadvertently released after he posted bond on the misdemeanor charges, KCTV reported.