Campbell added that her grandson battles mental illness, and that he called her just before his confrontation with police.
“He just kept calling me and saying he was tired. He was intending to die. He really was,” said Campbell.
The Kansas Bureau of Investigations is now heading up the inquiry including the actions of the officers in the shootout with the suspect. While authorities have not identified the suspect, sources and family members have identified him to KCTV5 as 30-year-old Marcus McGowan.
Leavenworth Police Chief Pat Kitchens said Saturday morning that investigators could not rule out that the little girl was killed during the cross fire between officers and McGowan, a family friend who had allegedly kidnapped her.
But KBI officials said they have determined that Cadence Harris was not struck by a bullet fired from an officer’s service revolver.
“There is one important fact that I can discuss with you,” said Mark Malick, KBI special agent in charge said Saturday afternoon during a news conference. “We are early in the investigation. But there is no evidence that indicates at this time that the vehicle or our victim were struck by any gunfire from law enforcement.”
Witnesses had indicated to KCTV5 Friday night that the suspect had shot the little girl before he turned his weapon on officers. Kitchens said investigators have reviewed dash cam video of the shootout.
“What I can tell you definitively on the videotape – he pointed his gun at officers. That’s what perpetrated the shooting,” he said.
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McGowan’s family members have said
McGowan was dating Cadence’s mother and had lived together in Atchsion with McGowan’s family members.
It all began Friday night when McGowan allegedly abducted Cadence from Atchison, KS. Police say the two knew each other and were acquaintances, but wouldn’t specify their relationship.
Authorities said they chased McGowan from Kansas into Missouri and back. Law enforcement officials from Platte County were among those that joined the chase. Leavenworth police picked up the chase about 7:30 p.m. Friday.
McGowan crashed into construction barricades at 20th and Metropolitan in Leavenworth. After he crashed his SUV through the barricades, the man was involved in a short standoff.
Witnesses said officers retreated to a defensive position before opening fire on the suspect.
Investigators spent most of Saturday interviewing witnesses and gathering evidence at the crime scene including determining when the little girl died.
“I just want to clear up, it’s not as certain as what was being reported last night, which is that it happened there. We’re still working on a lot of those details,” Chief Patrick Kitchens said. “What we’re going to do is go through the scene very clearly. There’s a difference between doing a crime scene at night and during the day...we’ll be in a much better position to understand the evidence at the scene.”
At some point Cadence was shot and killed, but the details surrounding her death are unclear as police continue to uncover new details. An autopsy was started Saturday on Cadence.
“There was initial reporting the suspect, while at the scene, shot the victim in the car. We are not sure that’s exactly what happened,” Kitchens said. “A lot more information is made available when the technicians can see and can get a better sense.”
KS-Kidnapped girl dead after Kansas shootout between police, suspect
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Originally Posted by MelissaWV
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