In the small town of Alma, Kansas, the life of 36-year-old Chad Anthony Thomas-Buckbee, a male resident, came to an abrupt and violent end on a cold Thursday night. On February 1, 2018, authorities received a 911 call reporting a domestic incident at a residence in Alma. When a deputy from the Wabaunsee County Sheriff's Office arrived at the home, Chad was discovered with gunshot wounds.
Emergency medical services were dispatched to the scene, and he was quickly transported to the Wamego Community Hospital. Despite their efforts, he succumbed to his injuries and died. The following morning, the Wabaunsee County Sheriff's Office requested the assistance of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation to delve into the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting. Special agents and a crime scene response team were dispatched to lead the investigation into the death of the man who had worked for 15 years as a plant maintenance engineer at Alma Foods.
Initial reports from the investigation indicated that there had been a violent confrontation involving individuals at the residence that night. As the KBI and local law enforcement continued their work, it was determined that the public was not in any danger as a result of the incident. An autopsy was ordered to be performed.
After a thorough investigation into the events that transpired, the Wabaunsee County Attorney, Tim Liesmann, announced a significant development in the case. The shooting death of Chad Thomas-Buckbee was officially ruled as a justifiable act of self-defense. Based on the evidence gathered and the legal standards for self-defense in Kansas, it was concluded that no criminal charges would be filed against the individual responsible for the shooting. The investigation was subsequently closed, and no suspects were publicly named or arrested in connection with the death.
