Gary K. Cusick Obituary, Death; Independence police identify 68-year-old man fatally shot by officers.

Gary K. Cusick Obituary, Death – Authorities have released the identity of the man who was fatally shot by Independence Police Department (IPD) officers over the weekend. The victim has been identified as 68-year-old Gary K. Cusick, a resident of Independence. The shooting occurred early Sunday morning and is now under investigation by multiple agencies.

According to officials, the Lee’s Summit Police Department confirmed Cusick’s death and noted that the officers involved have been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. Once the inquiry is complete, the case will be submitted to the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office for review to determine whether the officers’ actions were legally justified.

Oversight of the case is being handled by the Police Involved Incident Team (PIIT), a multi-agency task force composed of officers from Lee’s Summit, Blue Springs, Grandview, and Independence police departments. The Kansas City Police Department is also assisting in the investigation to ensure a thorough and impartial review.

The incident unfolded around 1 a.m. on Sunday, when Independence officers responded to reports of a disturbance at an apartment complex near East Truman Road and South Scott Avenue. Upon arrival, officers encountered a man, later identified as Cusick, sitting in the backseat of a vehicle at the location.

As officers engaged him in conversation, police said Cusick suddenly produced a handgun. Officers gave repeated verbal commands for him to put the weapon down. Body-worn camera footage reportedly captured the encounter, showing officers instructing Cusick to drop the gun. When he refused to comply with their commands, officers fired their weapons, fatally wounding him.

Sergeant Chris Depue of the Independence Police Department stated that officers were placed in a situation where lethal force was unavoidable. “The officers gave that man commands to drop the handgun. Yes, he disregarded their commands, and unfortunately, officers were forced to use lethal force,” Depue explained.

Emergency medical responders were called to the scene, but Cusick was pronounced dead shortly after the shooting. No officers or bystanders were reported injured in the incident.

The use of lethal force by police officers remains under close scrutiny, both by law enforcement oversight bodies and the community. Investigators are expected to review all available evidence, including body camera footage, officer reports, and witness statements, to determine the precise sequence of events and whether proper procedures were followed.

While the investigation is ongoing, Independence police leadership emphasized their commitment to transparency. They assured the public that the case will be fully examined before being handed over to the prosecutor’s office for legal review.

The death of Gary K. Cusick has raised questions and concerns within the community, particularly regarding police responses to armed individuals and the challenges officers face in high-risk encounters. For now, officials have urged patience as the investigation continues, stressing that conclusions will only be made once all facts have been reviewed.