FAIRWAY, Kan. — A Tennessee woman has been charged in connection to a police pursuit that led to the fatal shooting of a Fairway, Kansas, police officer.

Andrea Rene Cothran, 32 of Goodlettsville, Tennessee, has been charged with one count of aggravated battery, one count of fleeing law enforcement, one count of reckless driving and one count of felony theft of less than $25.000. 

Andrea Cothran (mugshot via Johnson County jail)

Right now Cothran isn’t being charged in Officer Jonah Oswald’s death, but Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe said that could change.

“That’s always a possibility,” Howe said. “Just because we filed the initial complaint does not stop us from being able to file additional charges as the facts and evidence come to our attention.”

Cothran had her first court appearance Tuesday afternoon where she received a court-appointed attorney.

She remains in custody at the Johnson County jail on a $1 million bond. Her next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 16.

What happened?

Lenexa police first responded to a report of a stolen car near  I-35 and 95th Street around 7:30 a.m. Sunday. 

Police chased the suspect north on I-35 until the driver came to a stop in the area of I-35 and Lamar Avenue in Mission, Kansas. 

Two suspects then crashed the car and ran into a nearby QuikTrip. Officers from multiple agencies went into the QuikTrip to arrest the suspects. 

One suspect, later identified as Shannon Wayne Marshall of Ashland City, Tennessee, was fatally shot at the scene.

Fallen officer

Fairway police said 29-year-old Oswald also died from his injuries. It is the Fairway Police Department’s first line-of-duty death.

“This is the third officer that has lost their lives while I’ve been district attorney, and each and every one of those, it’s been very difficult to deal with that situation,” Howe said.

Oswald was a 4-year veteran of the department. He leaves behind a wife and two young children.

“It’s a loss that’ll be felt. Again, it’s a small community. We know one another. We look out for one another and just a real tragedy,” one Fairway resident said.

A memorial is growing Tuesday at the Fairway Police Department as people leave flowers, crosses and other mementos.

The city has also created a donation link for anyone who wants to support Oswald’s family.