photo by: Kansas Department of Corrections

Steven Carl Drake II

A Lawrence man known for leading police on high-speed car chases was charged Monday in Douglas County District Court with attempted first-degree murder with a handgun.

The man, Steven Carl Drake II, faces one count of attempted first-degree murder. The charge stems from an incident on Sept. 28, when Drake is alleged to have fired multiple rounds from a handgun at a man with the intent to kill him, according to charging documents.

Lawrence police responded to a report of a shooting in the 3500 block of West 24th Street just before 11 p.m. on Sept. 28, said Lawrence Police spokesperson, Laura McCabe, at the time of the shooting. During their investigation officers found two vehicles with bullet holes in them.

Police identified a suspect, tracked his vehicle down and attempted to pull him over at the corner of Fifth and Elm streets, but he fled the scene; officers pursued the vehicle but terminated the pursuit near U.S. Highway 40, McCabe said.

Drake was arrested by sheriff’s deputies Monday morning when he appeared in court to face multiple felony flee and elude charges stemming from incidents in February and June. He was free on a $10,000 cash or surety bond for the incident in June and a $15,000 own-recognizance bond for the incident in February.

As previously reported by the Journal-World, Drake allegedly led police on a chase in February through the snow-packed streets of downtown Lawrence and again in two more chases in May and June.

Drake was bound over trial for the February incident on May 19. He faces felony flee and elude charges as well as a possession of methamphetamine charge. He was traveling with Jason D. Ickler, 38, the morning of the chase, Feb. 3. Ickler was shot and killed by a Shawnee County sheriff’s deputy on Feb. 6 at the Topeka Quality Inn, 1240 S.W. Wanamaker Road, while he was allegedly trying to hit the deputy with a car.

Steven Drake II is not to be confused with his son, Steven Austin Drake III, who was convicted of voluntary manslaughter in February and was sentenced to more than 8 years after shooting Bryce Holladay, 26, on Sept. 19, 2017, at Drake’s duplex in the 2000 block of West 27th Terrace. Drake III is currently being held at the Hutchinson Correctional Facility according to Kansas Department of Corrections records.

Drake II is being held at the Douglas County Jail on a $500,000 cash or surety bond.

Drake II has felony convictions in Douglas County for flee and elude, endangering a child and theft. In Jefferson County, he has felony convictions for forgery, obstruction and aggravated interference of parental custody, according to Kansas Department of Corrections records.