Teen, 16, arrested in double homicide

A 16-year-old Lawrence resident was arrested Sunday in connection with the shooting that left two men dead early Saturday in east Lawrence.

The juvenile was booked at the Douglas County Juvenile Detention Center on charges of felony murder, conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery, and attempted aggravated robbery, Lawrence Police Sgt. Dan Ward said in a statement.

Two men, ages 18 and 20, died from gunshot injuries at a home in the 1300 block of Delaware Street early Saturday. The men’s names have not been released.

Police said they received several reports of the sound of gunshots on the city’s east side about 2:45 a.m. Police later discovered the two dead men. One man was found on the back porch of the home. The other was inside the residence.

Police said a weapon was found at the scene, and a second weapon was found about one block from the home.

Police said the suspect fled on foot after the shooting.

Shortly before 9 a.m., a red Acura Integra was towed from 14th Street, near the entrance to the alley behind the crime scene.

Lawrence Police Sgt. Dave Hubbel said he did not know whether the shooting was related to another incident involving gunfire that began at Kwik Shop, 1846 Mass., earlier in the morning.

About 1 a.m., police received reports of an argument between two people in two different cars in the convenience store’s parking lot, Hubbel said. A dark-colored Chevrolet Caprice then chased a small red car out of the lot, turning left on 19th Street and heading north on New Hampshire Street, Hubbel said. A witness heard car engines racing and several gunshots.

Police later located several empty shell casings along the street, Hubbell said.

One bullet hole later was found in each of three houses in the 1800 block of New Hampshire Street.

John Angermeier, who lives on the block, said he heard what sounded like a knock on the door early Saturday morning. He later discovered bullet holes in his house.

“I called the police and they came and checked it out and said it was connected,” he said. “Apparently the shells match or something like that.”

Neighbors of the east Lawrence residence where the men were killed said they had witnessed many people coming and going from the house in recent months.

“People would knock on the door and be there five minutes and then leave,” said Louise Nora, who lives down the street from where the two men were found. Nora said some neighbors suspected drug dealing.

Venus Poke, a neighbor, said she observed similar activity.

“I wasn’t paying much attention to it, but I could see it coming and going, coming and going,” she said. “There was a lot of people over here.”

Poke said she thought two men stayed at the house, but she never met them. She said a woman, who she believed was a relative, also spent time there.