A suspect has been arrested in connection with an officer involved shooting last (MON) night in Lawrence. The suspect has been identified as 58-year-old Tommie John May, of Lawrence. He is being held in the Douglas County Jail. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is now the lead agency in charge of investigating the incident. The city's police department requested the assistance since one of its officers was involved in the shooting.
According to the KBI, preliminary information indicates that officers were dispatched to 713 West 25th Street at about 9:30 p.m. to a reported shooting. Once they arrived at the residence, two gunshot victims were located and taken to area hospitals. Approximately five minutes after the shooting call, a responding officer in the area encountered a green SUV matching the description of the shooting suspect’s vehicle, and attempted to initiate a car stop near 21st and Louisiana Street. During the incident, the officer exited his vehicle and the suspect struck the police vehicle and the officer with his SUV. The officer fired his weapon multiple times toward the SUV, where it is believed the suspect was injured by gunfire. The suspect then ran from the scene heading south, where additional officers were able to arrest him. A firearm was recovered near 21st and Louisiana Street where the car stop was attempted. Both the injured officer and the suspect were transported to Lawrence Memorial Hospital where they were treated for non-life threatening injuries and have since been released.
While the KBI is investigates the officer-involved shooting, the other shootings (which occurred on 25th Street) are being investigated by the Lawrence Police Department. Once the investigation is complete, the KBI will turn over its findings to the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office. Further information on charges arising from either shooting is expected to come from the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office.
