Cowley County Attorney Larry Schwartz is scheduled to meet Friday morning with KBI investigators for a briefing on last month’s fatal officer-involved shooting north of Winfield.
A suspect, 32-year-old Andrea C. Barrow was shot and killed in an exchange of gunfire that injured three Cowley County Sheriff’s Deputies. Those deputies are continuing to recover from their injuries and are on paid administrative leave.
“I’d think they (KBI) probably have everything done that they’re going to do,” Schwartz said Thursday. “They’ll brief me on the information they have, and then say whether or not they recommend any charges be filed.”
Ultimately, Schwartz will make the final decision as to whether any criminal charges would be filed in the case. He did not have an idea on a timeframe for making a final decision. Such a review and subsequent determination by a state prosecutor are standard in all officer-involved shootings.
The meeting Friday is private and allows the KBI to provide Schwartz the necessary information for making his decision. A meeting this quickly following the incident indicates the investigation could be concluded in less time than in other local officer-involved shooting investigations.
On April 15, the sheriff deputies were investigating reports of a suspicious driver when they made contact with Barrow on 122nd Rd. a few miles north of Winfield. They were attempting to remove her from her black Jeep Liberty, when she pulled out a handgun and fired at officers.
Law enforcement returned fire and Barrow was fatally wounded.
Other deputies are currently covering for those involved in the shooting.