Kansas deputy killed, second officer wounded during prisoner transport

(Reuters) - A Kansas sheriff's deputy was killed and another was in critical condition after being shot on Friday during a scuffle with a prisoner they were taking from jail to court for a hearing in Kansas City, officials said.

The deputies were shot after a suspect overpowered at least one of them and perhaps took a weapon, said Major Kelli Bailiff of the Wyandotte Sheriff's Department said during a press conference.

"It is very possible that with their own firearm they were both shot," Bailiff said.

The deputy who was killed was identified as Patrick Rohrer, 35, who had been with the department for seven years, officials said.

The wounded deputy, who is female, was in critical condition, Bailiff said. The suspect was also shot and was being treated at the same hospital, Bailiff said.

Bailiff said the incident occurred in a "caged" area outside of a courthouse, and that there was no danger to the community.

She said she was not sure whether the suspect was shot by one of the deputies or someone else who responded to the incident.

Witnesses were being interviewed, she said.

The name of the wounded deputy and the suspect were not released by Friday afternoon.

Kansas Governor Jeff Colyer released a statement Friday saying he was deeply saddened to learn of the shooting, and said he and his wife Ruth will be praying for the deputies and their families.

(Reporting by Bernie Woodall in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., additional reporting by Rich McKay in Atlanta; Editing by James Dalgleish)