Here’s how to support families of 18-year-old, teen, shot outside Lawrence bar
After a shooting at a Lawrence, Kansas, bar on Saturday killed an 18-year-old and critically injured a 16-year-old, two families have created GoFundMe fundraisers to support the pair and their loved ones.
Aidan Knowles, 18, was killed, and his close friend, 16-year-old Brady Clark, was critically injured after the pair were caught in a shooting outside the Jayhawk Cafe, locally known as “The Hawk,” in Lawrence early Saturday morning.
Officers with the Lawrence Police Department responded to the bar at 1340 Ohio Street around 2 a.m., according to a news release. There, they found Knowles and Clark with apparent gunshot wounds.
Knowles was pronounced dead at the scene, investigators said. Clark was transported to an area hospital with serious injuries.
‘We will never ever recover from this senseless act’
In a Facebook post Sunday, Knowles’ father confirmed his son was the man shot and killed outside the Lawrence bar. He said Knowles was “simply in the wrong place at the wrong time,” leaving the family “completely devastated.”
The man and his wife thanked local law enforcement and emergency personnel for “doing everything possible” to save Knowles and for saving Clark’s life.
Knowles’ grandmother, Pamela Kirkpatrick, said in a GoFundMe that the 18-year-old was “the light of our lives, and we will never ever recover from this senseless act.”
As of Tuesday afternoon, the GoFundMe had raised just over $30,000, around $5,000 short of the fundraiser’s listed goal.
Teen continues to recover
In a GoFundMe for Clark, his uncle, Micah Bray, said Clark has “a long road to recovery — both physically and emotionally” due to the severity of his injuries.
Clark’s mother sent support to Knowles’ family on Facebook on Monday.
“Our son suffered critical injuries, and thanks to the tireless efforts of first responders and medical staff, he survived,” she said. “Tragically, his best friend did not, and our hearts are with his family as they grieve this unimaginable loss.”
The family thanked first responders and the medical teams at Children’s Mercy and Lawrence Memorial Hospital “for their quick and compassionate care.”
As of Tuesday afternoon, the GoFundMe set up for Clark had raised just over $6,700, just a few hundred dollars short of the fundraiser’s listed goal of $7,000.
Suspects previously faced firearm-related charges
Witnesses in the area told investigators they had seen the two suspects, 18-year-old Dai’tron L. Daniels-Strickland of Shawnee and 18-year-old Caiden Clem of Atchison, leaving the bar after the shooting.
Officers eventually found the pair in a group of people walking a few blocks away from the bar. They were taken into custody and questioned by investigators, according to a news release.
Daniels-Strickland faces one count of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder.
Clem faces one count of felony first-degree murder and two counts of aggravated assault.
Other victims, besides Knowles and Clark, are listed in the charges.
Daniels-Strickland and Clem are each being held on $1 million bond, and each made their first appearance in Douglas County District Court on Tuesday.
Daniels-Strickland was previously charged in Johnson County juvenile court after he allegedly brought a loaded gun in a backpack to Olathe Northwest High School in Feb. 2024.
He was sentenced to 18 months in a juvenile correctional facility after pleading guilty in April 2024 to felony criminal threat and three misdemeanor charges. He was released in August.
Clem pleaded no contest in juvenile court in Sept. 2023 to a felony charge of burglary of a dwelling with intent to steal a firearm. He was initially placed on probation, but was sent to a correctional facility in April 2024 after violating probation. He was released in November.
Clem is set to appear for a status conference in Douglas County court at 9 a.m. Wednesday.
The Star’s Kendrick Calfee, Eleanor Nash and Jenna Thompson contributed reporting.
