Attempted Capital Murder Charges Filed Against William Parker Following Sunday Morning Shooting During Mission Target Burglary

William Henry Parker III faces attempted capital murder charges after allegedly shooting at a Mission police officer during a burglary at a local Target.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 17, 2026, 4:53 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Kansas City Star

Early Morning Burglary Escalates to Violence

The Mission Police Department responded to reports of a burglary in progress during the early morning hours of Sunday, March 15. At approximately 4:41 a.m., officers arrived at the Target located at 6100 Broadmoor St. and discovered a man, later identified as William Henry Parker III, near the rear of the building. Mission Police Chief Dan Madden stated that the suspect was observed carrying several duffel bags and fled the scene immediately after a brief confrontation with an officer. The incident quickly escalated from a property crime into a life threatening situation for the responding law enforcement personnel.

Shots Fired During Foot Pursuit

As the officer pursued Parker, the situation turned violent when the suspect allegedly fired multiple rounds directly toward the law enforcement official. In response to the immediate threat, the officer returned fire, successfully striking Parker. Despite the exchange of gunfire, no officers were injured during the encounter. Investigators provided immediate first aid to the suspect at the scene before he was transported to a local hospital. Officials confirmed that Parker’s injuries were non life threatening, and he was subsequently released into police custody for booking.

Formal Charges and Judicial Proceedings

On Monday, March 16, prosecutors in Johnson County filed a series of serious charges against Parker. The primary count is attempted capital murder of a law enforcement officer, a charge that carries significant weight in the Kansas legal system. Additionally, Parker faces one count of interference with a law enforcement officer involving the discharge of a firearm while fleeing, as well as a burglary charge. These filings indicate that the district attorney’s office views the suspect’s actions as a targeted attempt on the life of the officer during the commission of a felony.