KU student shooting victim remains hospitalized; suspects still at large
A Kansas University student remains hospitalized a week and a half after suffering multiple gunshot wounds during a home invasion altercation, Lawrence police spokesman Sgt. Trent McKinley said Wednesday.
The victim was one of three men shot around 4:30 p.m. Feb. 8 in a home at 1621 W. 19th Terrace, just south of the KU campus. McKinley said that two male suspects — still at large — initially entered the lower level of the home just south of the KU campus to commit a robbery.
The other two victims, one a KU student, were released from Kansas City area hospitals early last week. McKinley said Wednesday that he did not know a condition update of the currently hospitalized victim, who was taken by air ambulance to KU Hospital in Kansas City, Kan., immediately after the shooting.
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.
Lawrence Police Department detectives have “started to narrow things down to a few” possible suspects, McKinley said.
The LPD spokesman said the department is currently trying to understand just “who played what roles in the shooting.” McKinley was unable to provide a timeline as to when arrests could be made.
McKinley said last week that “at least one” of the victims knew the suspects. He reiterated Wednesday 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.