Missouri civil processor serving eviction notice, responding police officer fatally shot, 2 others wounded

A police officer and a court worker were killed, and two other officers were injured in Independence, Missouri, on Thursday, after gunfire erupted while serving an eviction notice at a Jackson County home. 

Independence Police Department Chief Adam Dustman told reporters during a press conference that one of his officers, 35-year-old Cody Allen, was shot and killed while responding to reports that a civil processor had been shot at a home just after 1 p.m. local time.

Allen responded with two other officers, and when they arrived, they found a man suffering from gunshot wounds. As they attempted to take the man to safety, the officers took gunfire from the person inside.

The other two officers were taken to the hospital and are expected to recover from their injuries.

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Three Missouri police officers and a court process server were shot at a residence near E. Bundschu Road and N. Elsea Smith Road in Independence on Thursday. (WDAF)

"Today is an absolutely devastating day," Dustman said, telling reporters Allen is survived by his wife, their two small children, and his parents. "He always had a smile…the beard he grew, we always gave him some grief for on his return, but he always had that smile. He is one of a kind – a human being among human beings."

The civil processor, Drexel Mac, was also killed in the incident.

The shooting took place in the area of E. Bundschu and N. Elsea Smith roads, which is in the northeast section of Independence, near Highway 24.

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Law enforcement officials and medical personnel work the scene of an officer involved shooting near the intersection of Elsea Smith Road and Budschu Road on Thursday, in Independence, Mo.  (Nick Wagner/The Kansas City Star via AP)

According to Dustman, Mac was serving an eviction notice when he was shot.

One person was taken into custody, who Dustman said was the only suspect.

Judge Jalilah Otto of the 16th Judicial Circuit Court of Missouri said Mac had been with the court for over 12 years.

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Law enforcement personnel gather near the scene where two police officers were shot and wounded in a rural area in Independence, Mo., Thursday. Independence Police Department spokesperson Officer Jack Taylor said the two officers were taken to a hospital, and their conditions were not immediately known. One person was arrested, he said. (AP Photo/Heather Hollingsworth)

She told reporters Mac was "a true public servant, and he lost his life doing his job."

Out of an abundance of caution, the Fort Osage School District reported that its schools were on lockdown, but it has since been lifted.

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This is a developing story. Check back for updates.