Second victim in Sunday shooting released from hospital; suspects remain at large

A second victim of a Sunday shooting in the 1600 block of W. 19th Terrace has been released from a Kansas City-area hospital, Lawrence police spokesman Sgt. Trent McKinley said Wednesday, as officers continued to investigate possible suspects.

The victim, a Kansas University student, was one of three men injured around 4:30 p.m. Sunday after an altercation in a home at 1621 W. 19th Terrace culminated in gunfire, McKinley said. McKinley said he believed two male suspects — still at large — initially entered the lower level of the home just south of the KU campus to commit a robbery.

Lawrence police secure the scene of a triple shooting at 1621 W. 19th Terrace in this Feb. 9, 2015, file photo. Three men were shot at the home.

Another victim was released from the hospital Monday. The third, a KU student, remains at KU Hospital in Kansas City, Kan., McKinley said, after being taken there by air ambulance Sunday with multiple gunshot wounds. McKinley did not know what condition the man was in Wednesday.

After the shooting, two individuals fled from the home by foot, McKinley said. Detectives found evidence and footprints suggesting the two individuals ran north across 19th Street, into the field east of KU’s Oliver residence hall, and toward KU’s Ambler Student Recreation Center.

Lawrence and Kansas University police teamed up to search for two men wearing blue jeans and black, long-sleeved shirts, one of whom appeared to be wearing a gun holster. One man was carrying a gray sweatshirt, KU police said, possibly concealing a weapon with it.

On Monday, police had begun the process of identifying the suspects. McKinley said police “have started to narrow down the suspect list,” but they have not yet brought anyone in for questioning.

McKinley said Wednesday that “at least one” of the victims knew the suspects.

“We’re focusing on specific individuals, but have no one in custody,” McKinley said. “We are discussing (issuing) warrants and will forward our information to the district attorney’s office.”

Police will release the suspects’ names if they need the public’s help to locate them, but at this point, McKinley said, that isn’t necessary.

“If it comes to a point where we need to be able to name a suspect and put that out publicly for the public’s help, we will,” McKinley said.

McKinley said that because the nature of the crime did not appear to be random, the risk to public safety with the suspects at large was low.

“Is there a likelihood that they will be coming to your home?” McKinley said. “No, that’s not likely.”