Douglas County prosecutors Thursday morning dropped charges against a 28-year-old Lawrence man accused of firing a gun outside a bar last week because federal prosecutors are expected to charge him in the case.

Eric A. Reed Jr. had faced state charges of aggravated assault and criminal possession of a firearm. Lawrence police arrested him about 2:45 a.m. Friday near Bob Billings Parkway and Iowa Street after officers were investigating a report of multiple gun shots fired from a vehicle in the parking lot of Taste Lounge, Bar and Grill, 804 W. 24th St., near 24th and Alabama streets.

According to the Kansas Department of Corrections, Reed is on parole for a 2007 Douglas County drug possession case, and he was expected to be held in jail on a KDOC warrant. Eve Kemple, an assistant Douglas County district attorney, said Thursday morning federal prosecutors were taking over the case. Federal law prohibits convicted felons from possessing firearms.

Police have said they believed a second person was inside the vehicle, but only Reed was found and arrested. Kemple said the shooting incident outside Taste remains under investigation.