2 arrests made in Last Call shooting

Topeka women charged with aiding shooter

Two Topeka women were arrested late Tuesday, accused of helping a gunman who fired multiple shots toward a crowd of people early Sunday outside Last Call.

The women were in the gunman’s getaway car, according to Lawrence police Sgt. Paul Fellers. One woman, 30, was arrested on a charge of aiding a felon, and the other woman, 20, was arrested on a charge of aiding and abetting in an aggravated battery.

A 15-year-old Topeka boy and two Last Call employees were shot about 3 a.m. Sunday outside the club at 729 N.H.

The police department’s investigation into the case continues, Fellers said.

“We’ve followed dozens and dozens of leads in the case so far,” he said.

However, he declined to provide many details about the case, including whether police have identified the gunman or what led them to the two women.

”Obviously, we’re making some progress,” he said.

Meanwhile, the boy’s grandmother says she’s furious with her grandson for being at the private club. But Kay Foster is even more upset the bar let him in and then wouldn’t help him when he was shot.

Foster, of Kansas City, Kan., said her 15-year-old grandson told his family he was going to visit his cousins. Then the group went to Last Call. Foster said the 15-year-old still had the Last Call stamp on his hand in the Kansas City hospital where he had surgery to remove a bullet from his ankle.

“He walked up to the building. He does not look like he’s 18 at all,” Foster said. “He did not have an ID. Period. But even if he did have one, there’s no way he looks 18.”

Foster acknowledges her grandson bears responsibility for putting himself in the position where he got shot. But Foster, herself a former club manager, believes the club could have prevented all of this from happening by turning the youth away at the door.

“He got a tongue-lashing and a half,” Foster said. “I am furious with him.”

Still, Foster said her grandson’s age was no excuse for him not receiving aid at the scene of the shooting. Foster said her grandson walked back into Last Call after being shot, but was told there was nothing they could do and he needed to leave. So he and his cousins piled into a car and left for Lawrence Memorial Hospital, according to police.

Last Call owner Dennis Steffes did not return numerous messages seeking comment about Sunday’s incident. City officials say they’re interested in taking further steps in their continuing effort to close the club, which has operated on a bring-your-own alcohol basis since losing its liquor license late last year.

“That club should be shut down for allowing a child in there,” Foster said. “This club needs to be shut down. He could have been killed. If that bullet had been higher, he would have died.”

Meanwhile, Steffes’ attorney, Daniel Owen, said he’s tried to speak with city officials since Monday morning, but to no avail.

“For whatever reason, they’ve declined to call me back,” Owen said. “We don’t know what the city’s position is at this time. At this time, Mr. Steffes would be happy to talk with them, but so far we’ve been unsuccessful in getting them to talk to us.”