Officers responded to a call around 6:45 a.m. where there was an apparently suicidal person with a gun. Stephenson placed the call. Stephenson told dispatchers that he was armed with a gun and wanted to confront police officers. Three police officers showed up to the Grandview park and saw Stephenson from a distance. The teen allegedly aggressively approached officers with a gun. Two of the officers shot and killed him.
Agency: Grandview Police Department
Motive: mental health crisis
Confrontation Type: Mental Health/Welfare Check
Service Call: Yes
Official Disposition: Pending investigation
Victim Name: Lantz Stephenson Jr.
Death Date: May 16, 2021
County: Jackson
Geography: Suburban
Gender: Male
Age: 17
Race: White
Cause of Death: Gunshot
Criminal Charges: No known charges
Mental Illness: Yes
Armed: Allegedly Armed
Weapon: gun
Threat Level: attack
Fleeing: not fleeing