Kansas investigators find 33 pounds of explosives, 20 guns in home of man who killed deputy
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Kansas authorities say a man who fatally shot a sheriff’s deputy had more than 30 pounds of explosives in his home.
In a press release on Thursday, the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office in Wichita provided more details on what led up to the deadly encounter and what the investigation has revealed.
About 6 p.m. Sunday, the Phillips County Sheriff’s Office received a report of an explosion in Phillipsburg, a city 20 miles south of the Nebraska border.
The deputy who responded couldn’t find the source and eventually left, thinking the noise was from fireworks.
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But over the next hour and a half, the sheriff’s office received three more calls about loud booms in that area.
So Deputy Brandon Gaede responded and began investigating.
He talked to Kolton Griffith, who denied any involvement.
Around 8:45 p.m., Gaede stopped investigating but stayed nearby and reviewed Kansas laws on explosives.
About 9:20 p.m., the sheriff’s office got another report of an explosion.
Gaede saw smoke and approached Griffith, who was in his front yard.
Authorities said Griffith admitted to setting off an explosive device to provoke a neighbor who reported a previous explosion.
While the deputy tried to place handcuffs on him, Griffith resisted and pulled a revolver from his waistband, firing five shots.
Gaede fired back, shooting eight rounds and killing Griffith.
The deputy was taken to a hospital and died shortly after arrival.
Investigators said a search of Griffith’s home uncovered more than 33 pounds of explosive materials, including ammonium perchlorate, ammonium nitrate and commercial blasting caps.
There were also more than 20 firearms and a “large stockpile of ammunition,” according to the press release.
So far, investigators said they have not found any evidence that Griffith targeted the deputy.
