PO Jonah Oswald
Officer: Fairway Police Department, Police Officer Jonah Oswald
Date: 8/7/2023 Location: Mission, KS FACTORS (1,2,8,15,19)
Perpetrator(s) Involved: Shannon Wayne Marshall, Andrea Rene Cothran
Criminal Activity History/Involved: Yes, “Cothran has a history of misconduct” and “her name is on the Tennessee Sex Offenders Registry.” / Yes, the perpetrators stole a vehicle and fled from police before shooting at them.
Mental Illness: Unknown.
Substance Abuse History/Involved: Unknown. / None reported.
Race/Sex/Age: Marshal – White/Male/40; White/Female/32
What prompted the initial contact with the killer? At around 7:30 a.m. on August 6, 2023, Lenexa police responded to a 911 call of a stolen vehicle. Upon responding to the incident location the officers encountered the stolen vehicle which the occupants, Shannon Wayne Marshall and Andrea Rene Cothran crashed into the police vehicles and fled the scene. Officers from neighboring departments joined in the pursuit, ultimately chasing the perpetrators into a nearby convenience store after they crashed the stolen vehicle and fled on foot.
Actions taken by subject toward police: The perpetrators opened fire on the officers inside the store, fatally hitting Fairway Police Officer Jonah Oswald.
Reactions by the police: Officers returned fire, killing Marshall and took Cothran into custody.
How murdered? PO Oswald was shot while attempting to arrest car thieves.
What could have been done differently for the officer to still be alive? Even if the officers were aware the perpetrators were armed, they still would have had to make entry into the store for fear an innocent civilian would be taken hostage or shot – so officer’s did the right thing and put themselves in harm’s way to pursue the thieves into the store.
Would the officer have been justified in using deadly force before being murdered? The officers would have been justified to use deadly force as soon as they observed either of the perpetrators possess a weapon or make a furtive movement for one.
Outcome for the cop-killer: Marshall was justifiably killed in the shootout with police and Cothran was arrested and faces charges of first-degree murder, reckless fleeing of law enforcement, felony theft and reckless driving.
