Police Confirm No Officer Was Shot After Social Media Rumor Spreads

Salina Police confirmed Tuesday that no officer was injured during Monday’s officer-involved shooting, correcting rumors that circulated on social media after the incident.

The clarification came after several unofficial social media comments suggested that a police officer had been shot. Salina311 contacted the Salina Police Department directly to verify whether that information was accurate.

“No, at no time was an officer injured,” a Salina Police Department lieutenant told Salina311. “And we at no time released that any officer was injured.”

The confirmation is important because early information during police incidents can spread quickly online, especially when posts are shared before they are confirmed by law enforcement, emergency officials or a formal press release. In this case, the rumor that an officer had been shot was not accurate.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is investigating the officer-involved shooting, which occurred Monday afternoon in Salina. Publicly released information states that the incident began after Salina officers attempted a traffic stop, a pursuit followed and the incident ended in the 1200 block of Pacific Avenue. The suspect, identified in public reports as Brandon Michael Sears, 44, of Salina, was shot and killed after reportedly firing at law enforcement. No law enforcement officers were injured.

Salina311 is reporting that the Salina Police Department directly confirmed no officer was injured and that the department did not release any statement saying an officer had been injured.