photo by: Douglas County Sheriff's Office

Keisonn Smith Jr.

Updated at 2:44 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026

A man who was arrested in a Sunday homicide in downtown Lawrence has not been charged in the incident, but police say “he remains the suspect.”

Keisonn Smith, 25, of Topeka, was arrested Sunday after the fatal stabbing of 20-year-old McMillin Tutu, of Kansas City, Missouri.

Lawrence police had said that evidence pointed to Smith as the suspect, and he was arrested in Topeka and brought to the Douglas County Jail.

Smith never made a first appearance in court after his jailing, and on Wednesday the Journal-World learned that he has not been charged, after being told by the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office that he was scheduled to make a first appearance on Tuesday, then Wednesday. The DA’s office said on Tuesday that it was still reviewing reports and video and would make a charging decision before the first appearance Wednesday, which did not happen.

Lawrence Police Department spokeswoman Laura McCabe said that Smith nevertheless “remains the suspect in this case.”

“This was a large crime scene involving multiple witnesses and video evidence to review,” McCabe said. “This gives our detectives time to continue the investigation.”

The Journal-World has reached out to law enforcement authorities for additional details about the case.

Smith remained in custody Wednesday on a federal hold, according to a county law enforcement official, but the nature of that hold was not clear.

Douglas County Sheriff’s Office spokesman George Diepenbrock said, “Keisonn Smith is currently still in custody on a federal no-bond hold and a municipal court warrant FTA for disorderly conduct.”

“FTA” generally refers to failure to appear for a court date.

The Journal-World has learned that Smith will have a first appearance Thursday in Topeka on the federal hold.

Investigators have asked anyone who recognizes Smith from the night of the stabbing or who may have relevant video to call dispatch at 785-843-0250. Anonymous tips can also be given to Crime Stoppers of Lawrence and Douglas County at 785-843-TIPS (8477).