Shots traded with Kansas City police landed man in hospital, and now federal prison

A man wounded in an exchange of gunfire with police in downtown Kansas City was sentenced Wednesday to 10 years in federal prison.

Cahlan Clay, 29, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Kansas City where a jury in May found him guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Clay was shot in the leg after allegedly firing a handgun at police officers outside a downtown nightclub on Sept. 23, 2012.

According to testimony at Clay’s trial, two uniformed Kansas City police officers were working off-duty when they heard gunshots near the club in the 1500 block of Grand Boulevard.

The officers testified that when they went to investigate, Clay pointed a gun and fired.

Officers did not return fire because of the large number of people in the area. Offices began chasing Clay. When he turned and pointed the gun, one officer fired and saw Clay fall near the corner of 16th Street and Grand.

As the officer turned the corner, Clay was sitting on the ground and had his gun pointed at the officer before he dropped it and was taken into custody.