Two officers shot and killed the 66-year-old retired Baptist minister

Strokes may have affected man

By TIM UNRUH

Salina Journal

CLAY CENTER -- Family members said a stroke may have caused Ron Hughes to point a toy gun at officers early Sunday morning, prompting them to shoot and kill the 66-year-old man.

"We are in no way, shape or form upset with the officers. They did what they had to do," Ron Hughes' son Ken said Monday afternoon. "We apologize, and feel bad for the officers in this tragedy."

A retired Baptist minister, Ron Hughes was not a violent man, but he'd dealt with multiple strokes that affected the "cognitive side of his brain," Ken said. "That cost him memory, and caused confusion."

His mother, who was injured by her husband, was released Monday afternoon from Clay County Medical Center, where she was taken with cuts on her head. She asked that her name not be printed.

Ron Hughes and his wife were married 45 years, Ken said.

"He had never been violent and threatening in any way. He's always been gentle with my mom," Ken said. "I had a great childhood."

The couple moved from Denver five months ago to be closer to family after Ron Hughes suffered several strokes. Ken said the health problems had caused his father to become frail and reclusive.

On a domestic call

A 911 emergency call from a neighbor sent one Clay Center police officer and a Clay County sheriff's deputy to the 800 block of Lane Street, in northeastern Clay Center, for what was initially thought to be a domestic violence call.

Hughes' wife met the officers in the front yard of their home, and Ron followed, holding one arm behind his back.

The officers ordered him to show both hands. When Ron pulled the hand behind his back, he was holding what appeared to be a handgun.

The officers ordered him to drop it, but he instead pointed it at them, and at that point, the officers shot him.

A neighbor reported hearing at least five shots between 3:15 and 3:30 a.m. Sunday.

Ken Hughes said his mother was yelling at his father, but Ron Hughes didn't respond.

"He never said a word," Ken said. "I think he had another stroke and he lost it, but I don't know. He had an issue with these strokes."

Nothing new was made available Monday in the Kansas Bureau of Investigation probe into the shooting, Clay County Sheriff Chuck Dunn said. He doesn't expect any updates until today. Among those details would be the results of an autopsy, Dunn said.

Officers on paid leave

Meanwhile, the officers involved in the shooting remain on paid leave pending the completion of the KBI investigation. They have not been named.

"They seem to be dealing with it pretty well," Dunn said of the officers. He said there have been several offers to provide counseling to them.

"We're letting them have a couple of days to get themselves put together," Dunn said. "We're doing everything we can to help them get through it."

n Reporter Tim Unruh can be reached at 822-1419 or by e-mail at tunruh@salina.com.

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Jack says....
This seems to be a real tragic event for all.God be with everyone involved.Very unfortunate.
6/16/2009

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Unity Minister says....
Sympathies to the family as well as the officers involved. The former Baptist minister was not in his right mind and he should be forgiven for his actions. Violence often occurs with dementia. May he rest in peace.
6/16/2009

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