Man Walked Into Sheriff's Office And Shot Two Deputies

Mankato, KS – A man walked into the Jewell County Sheriff’s Office and shot two deputies on Tuesday morning.

The Kansas Highway Patrol identified the shooter as Jason Lee Whitson, according to WIBW.

Police said Whitson walked into the Jewell County Law Enforcement Center at about 8 a.m. on Aug. 28 and opened fire, shooting one deputy in the neck, and another in the torso.

He fled on foot, and was later captured as he made his escape in a vehicle in Ottawa County, KAKE reported.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation said Whitson had suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound before he was captured, and was transported to a hospital after officers took him into custody, according to KAKE.

He was pronounced dead at the hospital, according to WIBW.

Whitson was previously identified as an escaped inmate in earliest reports of the shooting, but the Kansas Bureau of Investigation later said he was not an inmate, and had walked into the Jewell County Law Enforcement Center of his own volition, according to KAKE.

However, KAKE reported that some kind of disturbance had precipitated the shootings.

Both wounded deputies suffered critical injuries, but neither was considered to be life threatening, WIBW reported.

The Rock Hills School District went into lockdown when the incident occurred early Tuesday, but the superintendent said it was back to business as usual by about 9:30 a.m., according to WIBW.