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Mourners Gather for Funeral of Slain Kansas Police Captain

The site notes that under Kansas law, a conviction of capital murder carries only two possible sentences: life in prison with no chance of parole or the death penalty.

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Authorities have also charged another man, 18-year-old Daqon Sipple, with aggravated assault on a law-enforcement officer. Checks may be made payable to the Captain Robert Melton Memorial Fund.

The visitors included local officials, police from other departments and a line of supporters who stood at the entrance, holding American flags. He is not believed to have an attorney yet, a spokesman for Gorman’s office said.

“I’m just thinking what a sad time this is now in KCK”, Gorman said.

Lewis is charged with capital murder in the shooting death Tuesday of Kansas City, Kansas, police Capt. Robert Melton.

The officer briefly pursued the vehicle, but then stopped because the nature of the crime was only a traffic violation. The officer provided a description of the suspects, who eventually bailed from the vehicle and took off running on foot. Two people were taken into custody just minutes after the wreck. He is being charged with captial murder, aggravated assault and criminal discharge of a firearm.

Captain Melton was out on patrol in the area of 22nd and Georgia when he heard the 911 call and went to assist. Before the officer could get out of his unmarked police cruiser, he was shot several times through his passenger-side window and died later at a hospital. At the time of the shooting, Captain Melton was trying to exit his patrol auto to engage the suspect.

Police Chief Terry Zeigler has said Melton appears to have been shot by someone trying to elude authorities and that it wasn’t part of a planned ambush.

A fund has been started for Capt. Melton’s family.

Lewis used a.40-caliber handgun to shoot Melton, but was not carrying the gun when captured by police without resistance shortly after the Melton shooting, Gorman said.

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Melton left behind three children, and his partner is expecting a another child this winter, police said. He has nine siblings. Both suspects are being held on bond.

Jerome Gorman Wyandotte Co. District Attorney will hold a news conference at 4 p.m. to address charges against the men being held following the murder of KCK Police Capt. Dave Melton