Suspect Shoots at Police Drone in Lee’s Summit Chase

A late night drone operation helped Lee’s Summit Police catch a suspected car prowler who fired at the aircraft before running through several backyards. According to KCTV, the incident happened on Nov. 30 in the area of Applewood and NE Dreamweaver Drive after residents called in reports of someone pulling on car door handles.

Officers moved in fast and set up a perimeter around the neighborhood. While they spread out on foot, Officer McMilian prepared the department’s surveillance drone and launched it into the air. The drone gave officers a clean overhead view of driveways, yards, and side streets that would have taken much longer to check on the ground.

The drone’s camera quickly located a man walking through a driveway and testing vehicle doors. This is the type of behavior officers call car prowling since suspects rely on unlocked vehicles to get cash, weapons, or valuables with almost no effort. The drone followed the man long enough to give officers a detailed view of his actions.

When the suspect realized he was being watched from above, he pulled out a firearm and fired two shots at the drone. Police say the rounds did not hit the aircraft, and the drone remained in the air. The suspect then took off running and tried to lose officers by cutting through backyards.

Officers Track the Suspect and Recover a Stolen Gun

Officer Hurley took off on foot as soon as the suspect started running. Other officers held the perimeter and continued to guide the foot chase using the drone’s live feed. Even after the gunfire, the drone kept tracking the suspect’s movement from above, giving officers real time updates as he ran behind homes and fences.

The fast coordination forced the suspect into a backyard where he finally ran out of places to hide. Officers located him, detained him, and took him into custody without further incident. No injuries were reported.

With the suspect secured, Officer McMilian deployed his K9 partner Roy to search the area for items the suspect might have dropped during the chase.

The search uncovered a 9mm shell casing, gloves the suspect had worn, and a 9mm pistol. Police later confirmed the pistol had been reported stolen from a vehicle in Blue Springs. Officers also found a window punch tool and a set of keys that did not match any vehicle at the scene.

The collection of items matched what officers often see with active car prowlers. A window punch makes it easy to break vehicle windows quietly, and the gloves help avoid leaving prints. Spare keys can sometimes signal additional stolen vehicles or planned targets.

Lee’s Summit Police released a statement saying that the combination of fast response, drone support, and coordinated tracking helped take a dangerous person off the streets. The suspect’s name and age remain undisclosed, and charges are pending.

Drone Use Shows Its Value and Its Risks

This incident highlights how important drones have become for neighborhood patrols. In the past, officers would have needed to search each yard and driveway one by one, which takes time and gives suspects more chances to escape. The drone made the search much faster and reduced risks for officers working in the dark.

The gunfire is also a reminder of the growing threats police drones face. Criminals now understand that drones allow officers to see them clearly from above, and some are responding by shooting at them. Even though drones are small targets, the shots still create a risk for officers and for people who live nearby.

Departments across the country continue to expand drone programs because they save time, reduce danger, and help catch suspects who would otherwise slip away into the night.

DroneXL’s Take

This case is a strong example of how drones change police work on the ground. A single drone gave officers the advantage they needed to spot a suspect, track him through yards, and recover a stolen gun without any injuries. The fact that the suspect fired at the drone shows how seriously criminals now view these tools. Drone programs will need better training, stronger policies, and more reliable equipment as these situations become more common. The drone held up well, and the officers did their jobs with precision, proving again that aerial eyes make a real difference during night patrols.

Photo credit: Lee’s Summit PD