Early morning armed home invasion similar to Saturday robbery, under investigation

Lawrence Police are investigating after three men, at least one of whom had a handgun, kicked in the front door of a home in the 100 block of East 19th Street and demanded cash, drugs and other property from three victims at gunpoint early Tuesday.

Sgt. Trent McKinley, a Lawrence Police spokesman, said three black men with their faces covered entered the home at about 12:45 a.m. and fled with a cellphone, cash, drugs and a 42-inch flat-screen television. McKinley said that a 47-year-old female victim struggled with one of the men as he tried to take her laptop computer and that during the struggle, his handgun discharged. The bullet did not strike anyone, McKinley said.

McKinley said the robbery was similar to a Saturday evening robbery, when officers were dispatched to an apartment in the 1400 block of Coventry Manor at 10 p.m. Four occupants of the apartment told police that three black males entered through an unsecured sliding glass door. Again, all three had their faces covered and at least two were armed. McKinley said the men took cash and a laptop computer after threatening the victims at gunpoint.

Police have not identified any suspects and ask that anyone with information call the Lawrence Police Department at 832-7509 or CrimeStoppers at 843-TIPS (8477). Calls to CrimeStoppers can be made anonymously and callers may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 if information leads to an arrest.