Leonna Hale: Bodycam footage shows Kansas woman was armed, pointed gun at cops before being shot

Leonna Hale: Bodycam footage shows Kansas woman was armed, pointed gun at cops before being shot
Leonnah Hale was holding a gun according to the still released from the bodycam footage (Jackson County Prosecutor Office/Leonnah Hale Facebook)

Warning: The article contains graphic content

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI: In an incident that took place on Friday, May 27, a black woman was shot at least 5 times by the police. The officers were reportedly following up on a call about an armed carjacking just before 8 pm with a given description and license plate of the vehicle. The police have now released images from the bodycam of the woman being armed. Leonna Hale, 26, of Kansas City, Kansas, was charged by The Jackson County prosecutor's office with unlawful firearm possession, exhibiting a firearm, and resisting arrest.

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The police department was previously faced with a lot of backlash for shooting Leonna 5 times. One witness also claimed that she was unarmed when the police started to gun her down. However, the bodycam footage reveals otherwise. The prosecutor's office said that the bodycam footage of the officer shooting her showed Hale holding a gun in her right hand. Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker, who reviewed the footage said, "Hale was continually displaying a weapon during her encounter with police and also appeared to be attempting to flee. Some false narratives about what happened last Friday night at 6th and Prospect Avenue, unfortunately, were relied upon by some media and other sources. Our job, as prosecutors, is to remain neutral and review all evidence. Our review of body cam videos provided the actual accounting of events that night."