Lawrence police arrested two 19-year-old Topeka men Thursday morning an hour after a Kansas University student was pistol-whipped and a gun discharged in a robbery at The Reserve apartment complex, 2511 W. 31st Street.
Sgt. Trent McKinley, a Lawrence police spokesman, said police were called at 11:50 p.m. to the apartment complex.
Police gave this account of the incident:
Three KU students reported they were sitting in a sport-utility vehicle in a parking lot Wednesday night, and another student was standing outside the vehicle, when two men approached them and demanded marijuana.
“When the occupants in the SUV said they didn’t have any marijuana, the suspects demanded their cell phones and cash,” McKinley said. “One of the suspects circled around the car and went to the driver’s side where he pointed a pistol at the person sitting in the driver’s seat and threatened to shoot him if the others didn’t give up their money and property.”
A struggle ensued between the armed suspect and the male student standing outside the SUV. The suspect punched the victim. Then the suspect struck the victim on top of his head with the pistol. The pistol also fired into the ground.
The suspects took the victim’s keys and fled in a vehicle.
Medics treated the robbery victim, but he declined to be taken to the hospital, McKinley said.
About 12:35 a.m. Thursday, police received a report of vehicle burglaries in the 1000 block of Vermont Street.
“Witnesses reported seeing two individuals, who matched the description of the suspects involved in the incident at The Reserve, checking several vehicles parked in the city parking lot,” McKinley said. “They advised the subjects made entry to one vehicle prior to officers arriving.”
Police recovered a handgun, holster and keys to the robbery victim’s vehicle.
Officers arrested the two suspects on charges of auto burglary and possession of marijuana, and after an investigation they connected the two men to the robbery outside the apartment complex, the sergeant said. One of the suspects, Sterling James Wilkins, was also detained on outstanding Shawnee County warrants, McKinley said.
Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson said prosecutors would likely make a decision about filing formal charges Friday.
Comments
Aaron Butell 5 years ago
... Students are back.
John Hamm 5 years ago
Those in custody are from Topeka. "Students are back" undoubtedly refers to "Easy pickings are back" right?
LeBo 5 years ago
Lawrence is not as safe as you think!
john heleniak 5 years ago
LOL! "Students are back" How about "looks like someone ran out of money for drugs so they decided to get money the easiest way they know."
itsalwayssunnyinlarry 5 years ago
When i got robbed last year, they weren't students...they were from Topeka. I have more problems with people from Topeka, than i do students.
cabmando 5 years ago
if the city commission can declare a bar a "nuisance" for repeated violent activity, then this site should fall under those guidelines too
cowboy 5 years ago
two arrests last night , and they were from....drum roll please...Topeka
itsalwayssunnyinlarry 5 years ago
I am simply shocked.
somebodynew 5 years ago
Ban biggunz ! (sarcasm)
jhawkinsf 5 years ago
It will make it easier for those representin' their apt. complex to just cross the street and rob those representin' the other apt. complex. Gotta represent! 785! 913! 816!
beerbaron03 5 years ago
"mmm...pistol whip." - Homer Simpson
Rex Hargis 5 years ago
CW -- I would say "that's Freudian" but since he's been "discontinued" (I still think that some of what he said made sense), so I'll say "so do I". On the either hand, being pistol-whipped is not fun.
Terry Sexton 5 years ago
"Not sure why, but I like the term, "Pistol Whipped"" CeeDub
Pistol whipped] wistol pipped] whipple pissed]
'P' words are always entertaining.
kufan1146 5 years ago
i still think that the city government should close any entrances from the city to people with shawnee county tags after 6 p.m.
John Hamm 5 years ago
LOL but not such a bad idea
ironhead80 5 years ago
REALLY! How many crooks would try to steal from a person they think, might me carrying a gun? Let law abiding citizens protect themselves and there property. LEGALIZE GUN CARRY LAWS!!!!!!!!!! SERIOUSLY!
by ironhead80
ksjayhawk74 5 years ago
It is already legal to carry guns in Kansas...
Bonus points for using a licensed photo without paying for it.
bad_dog 5 years ago
We can only hope "shutterstock.com" isn't armed and doesn't have a bad attitude about intellectual property theft...
meggers 5 years ago
Have you been living under a rock? Concealed carry is legal in Kansas. In other words, the laws have already been legalized. ;)
hedshrinker 5 years ago
Your comment might carry more weight if you could spell and punctuate properly....although some demographics give people props for"stickin' it to THE MAN" by flouting conventional communication rules. Also as others have noted, conceal carry permits are available. Maybe your toxic testosterone levels impair your abilities in those areas.
bornon7 5 years ago
You are the one that spells HEAD without the A.
hedshrinker 5 years ago
Good catch;my "variant" spelling of screen name is intentional for the purpose of making it stand out....goal accomplished apparently.
beatrice 5 years ago
here property, there property ... -- Old Macdonald had a gun, E.I.E.I.O.
oldbaldguy 5 years ago
sounds like idiot had his finger on the trigger when he hit the kid. thankfully no one shot.
globehead 5 years ago
If this was an illegitimate robbery, the human body has a way of deflecting the bullets.
Smarmy_Schoolmarm 5 years ago
That's only in Missouri globehead.
FlintlockRifle 5 years ago
Not really, sounds more like a Hi-Point or Jennings
Hooligan_016 5 years ago
While it is fortunate no one was killed or seriously hurt, the students' account of simply hanging out in the car in the parking lot seems awfully suspect ...
But I don't know, maybe this just was a complete random act of violence.
jaywalker 5 years ago
The fact the suspects were caught committing more crimes in a different part of the city alleviates suspicion of the earlier victims, one would think.
Hooligan_016 5 years ago
Good point. My reaction came from the first report of the story; it just had the feeling of a poorly executed drug deal.
oldbaldguy 5 years ago
actually that is probably what happened. criminals usually pick targets at random.
RDE87 5 years ago
It’s always the trashy people from Topeka and KC that cause the majority of issues involving guns and robberies in Lawrence.
JackMcKee 5 years ago
Here's what ole Jack suspects. These guys are not just a couple of innocent students that were randomly chosen because they looked like they might have some pot. There was some reason the perps thought they were worthy of an armed robbery.
MarcoPogo 5 years ago
Can we start calling you Father Dowling? :)
Fatty_McButterpants 5 years ago
Yeah, right!! These students decided it was more fun to hang out in the parking lot, instead of their fully-furnished apartment that includes free Wi-Fi, cable & HBO, and two guys just randomly demand marijuana?? People who want drugs don't have a problem finding the drugs, just a problem paying for them. These dudes were likely enjoying a little mary jane, got jacked, and tossed the drugs before the cops arrived.
5 years ago
I have co-workers that live over there and I hope none of them was the one that got hurt.
beatrice 5 years ago
What is wrong with people these days? Parents just don't teach their children proper pistol-whipping techniques any more.
RoeDapple 5 years ago
Never take a whip to a gun fight.
puddleglum 5 years ago
when o when will we start charging shawnee county for the money spent on our law enforcement chasing topeka's criminals? solution is easy...toll booth on hwy 40, and secondary toll booths at the turnpike entrances. any one from shawnee county must pay a $5 cover charge to enter douglas county. sounds good to me.
vailbfun 5 years ago
Let me tell you the Reserve is not the ghetto! It is expensive to live there! What I want to know is where is the security that the apartment told me they provide when I rented my students appartment there! This is a fairly nice part of town and yes there are students in town. They bring in huge revenew to your community so you really should not complain. If you don't like a college town then move somplace else. Lawrence would be dried up without the college there!
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