The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is working with Butler County officials on the investigation of an officer-involved shooting in Leon.
The KBI said Butler County deputies were serving an arrest warrant on 53-year-old James Watts of Leon, and they were following his car when he parked at Vintage Bank at 101 North Main Street around 2 p.m. Thursday. Deputies told Watts to get out of the car, but he ignored the commands at first, then he stepped out with a pistol. Deputies ordered him to drop the gun, but Watts walked to the bank entrance. When he tried to go into the bank, three deputies fired shots, hitting Watts several times.
Watts was taken to a Wichita hospital and he was in critical but stable condition after surgery.
The KBI will investigate the shooting and turn over findings to the Butler County Attorney for review.
[ photo: Shawn Loging, KWCH ]
