'He didn't deserve to die': Additional lawsuits intended to be filed by family of man killed by Lenexa officer

Thursday afternoon's press conference at the Johnson County Courthouse brought news the family of Jose Enrique Cartagena-Chacon didn't want to hear.

"I have found the officer's use of force was justified under Kansas Law," said Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe.

Cartagena-Chacon, 25, was killed in an apartment complex parking lot near 97th Street and Monrovia by a Lenexa police officer on June 22, 2025.

The Lenexa Police Department was dispatched following a report of a man aiming a gun at people in the apartment complex pool.

Police arrived with their weapons drawn, searching for witnesses, victims, and suspects. Two officers approached a vehicle and one officer located what appeared to be a firearm. It was later determined by prosecutors to be a CO2-powered pellet gun.

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