Missourians honor slain police officer

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — About two dozen people gathered to pay their respects to the 22-year-old Independence police officer killed in a shooting last week.

The small crowd gathered Saturday at Centerpoint Medical Center as a motorcade escorted officer Blaize Madrid-Evans’ body from the hospital to the medical examiner’s office.

“It’s totally unnecessary for one to have to lose their life like he did, and it’s a real shame, because he’s less than half my age,” said city resident Tony Kriz, 61. “I’m here to just show my support and say I’m sorry that it happened.”

Madrid-Evans died Wednesday after a confrontation with a man who was being sought for violating parole. The State Highway Patrol said the man fired a handgun at Madrid-Evans and his partner, who returned fire. The suspect, 33-year-old Cody Harrison, died at the scene, and Madrid-Evans died later at a hospital.

The officer was also honored at Smithville High School’s football game. A moment of silence was held for the former Smithville student, three airplanes flew overhead and city and state officers held a banner with his name on it.

Ronnie Crowder said he showed up because an officer had once been there for him. In 2018 he suffered a stroke while driving, went blind and crashed his car. A police officer pulled him out, he said.

“They do things that most of us wouldn’t,” said Crowder, 69. “It’s sad that such a young man who was truly going to be a blessing to the world was taken from us.”