The Kansas City Police Department has unveiled new evidence surrounding the shooting of Leonna Hale.
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The Kansas City Police Department says bodycam footage contradicts witness’ statement
As previously reported, a witness claimed Hale was reportedly unarmed and pregnant during the shooting but arrest documents provided by KCPD showed a screenshot of Hale pointing a weapon as she looked behind her before last Friday’s shooting. According to the New York Post, Hale is reportedly a convicted felon and is banned from having weapons. Investigators said she allegedly pointed the Lorcin L25 handgun at the two officers. Moments later, she was shot three times.
Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker said in a statement that surveillance and bodycam footage contradicted the witness’ story and said the case has been filled with “false narratives,” which include that Hale was pregnant. However, the pregnancy claim is currently unclear since Hale did not disclose that information. She is currently in stable condition and the public is asking for the full release of the KPCD’s bodycam footage.
It looks like a phone with a convenient shadow or artifact. I don’t know what it was, or is, but I’m not going to believe one still frame that’s clearly been edited. (grass/ankle) If it’s a gun they need to release the video and remove all doubt. pic.twitter.com/2SBsXCyZeh
— SARmedic (@SARmedic911) June 2, 2022
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“Body camera footage confirms the officers’ statements that Hale was holding a handgun,” Baker said. The arrest warrant also said footage reportedly caught the officers “giving Hale [further] commands to drop the firearm, and Hale is observed to still be pointing the firearm in the victims’ direction.”
Hale tossed her weapon and officers added that another weapon was found in the car she exited from, said the probable cause statement. Her boyfriend fled the scene shortly after officers responded to an armed carjacking, arrested and charged with unlawful possession and unlawful use of a weapon, both felonies.
However, he explained to police that the white vehicle was given to him by a “white couple” in exchange for heroin and meth. He confessed to holding the drug supply but the two weapons in the car did not belong to him.
“He stated he nor Hale had firearms in the vehicle and advised he is a felon and not allowed to own or have a firearm,”
Leonna Hale had a previous criminal felony record for other offenses and the public believes the bodycam screenshot was altered
Hale was previously convicted of felony possession of meth and interference with a law enforcement officer. After the updated facts on the case were released, many people believe the screenshot of Hale holding the weapon might have been doctored due to the quality of the image and her body position after the Kansas City Defender updated their report.
Where’s her right ankle? Where’s her left hand? This looks doctored to me. I don’t trust the veracity of this picture one bit.
— Marxist-Linusist 🐸 (@linus_bohunk) June 2, 2022
I’m assuming seeing the video itself would be very helpful? Makes me wonder why they release a single frame and not the whole thing. Seems like a disinformation tactic to me!
— Alex Villanueva is a Bandito #GoogleLASDGangs (@TierOnePoster) June 2, 2022