Suspect rams police patrol car while fleeing from double shooting in Lawrence

A suspect fleeing from a double shooting that critically injured two people in Lawrence Monday night rammed a police car, injuring the officer.

Officers responded to the shooting about 9:30 p.m. in the 700 block of West 25th Street. Arriving officers found two victims who had been shot. They were rushed to hospitals with life-threatening injuries, according to Lawrence police.

An officer traveling in the area saw the suspect leaving the area in a green SUV. When the officer tired to stop the vehicle near 21st and Louisiana streets, the suspect drove his vehicle into the officers patrol vehicle, injuring the officer.

As the suspect drove the SUV at the patrol vehicle, the officer shot his gun multiple times, which likely injured the suspect, according to a Kansas Bureau of Investigation news release.

The officer and the suspect, a 58-year-old Lawrence man, were taken to Lawrence Memorial Hospital and later released, according to the KBI release. After being released from the hospital, the suspect was taken to the Douglas County Jail.

At first, Joshua Porter, who lives in the area, said he thought the gunshots were just fireworks. Then, he heard a woman screaming, "No, no, no, no." Porter thought she was just yelling at a kid for shooting off fireworks in the city limits.

"That's when I found out that a couple people got shot," he said.

Julio Garcia, who lives at the residence, also said he heard what he thought were fireworks right as he was getting home from work. The last he heard was that his roommate was seriously injured.

"As far as I know, my roommate is paralyzed from the waist down," Garcia said. "Other than that he's doing alright."

The officer is on paid administrative leave pending the investigation.

Police remained at the scene of the shooting collecting evidence. The investigation remains active as of Tuesday afternoon, according to the KBI release.

Lawrence police continue to investigate the double shooting. They ask anyone with information about the shooting to call Lawrence police at 785-832-7509.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation will investigation the officer discharging the firearm. Anyone with information is asked to contact the KBI at 785-296-8283.

This story was originally published July 3, 2018 at 7:59 AM.