Kidnapped 5-year-old killed in shoot-out between police and her abductor

Cadence Harris, was caught in the cross fire between officers and her kidnapper following a high-speed car chase yesterday

A five-year-old girl kidnapped on Friday night has been killed in a gun battle between police and her abductor.

Cadence Harris, who was reported kidnapped at about 7.30pm on Friday, got caught in the cross fire between officers and her kidnapper following a high-speed car chase, which ended in a construction yard in her home town of Leavenworth, Kansas, yesterday.

Police in Missouri and Kansas were involved in the chase as the suspect crossed the state line.

The 30-year-old suspect, who is believed to be related to the girl,  got out of his vehicle and pointed a gun at officers and they exchanged fire.

"The matter unfolded quite rapidly," said Leavenworth Police Chief, Patrick Kitchens. "We are still trying to sort out specifically what happened.

“It is a fairly complicated investigation. There is a lot of information we are trying to sort through.”

Chief Kitchens said officers on the scene had tried to revive the girl.

"Anytime we have the loss of a small child it is devastating."

It is not known whether Cadence was shot by a bullet fired by police or her abductor, who was wounded in the shoot out and is being treated for 'serious but not life threatening injuries' at Kansas City Hospital

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is now investigating the tragic incident.

KBI Special Agent in Charge, Mark Malick, said it did not appear the girl was hit by bullets fired by police officers.

Although police said Cadence was from Leavenworth, members of the man’s family said the girl and her mother lived with the man and his grandparents in Atchison.

Police said an autopsy was being conducted.

-Mirror

 

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Kidnap,killed