Two Warrensburg men charged in shooting after birthday party fight leaves one dead

Johnson County Prosecutor Robert Russell charged two men in connection with a Warrensburg shooting that killed one woman and injured two others Aug. 1.

Evan Lanigan, 25, and Christian Harrison, 28, of Warrensburg were charged in connection with the shooting, which broke out following a fight at a birthday party, according to court documents.

Harrison was charged with one count each of second-degree murder and unlawful possession of a firearm, three counts of unlawful use of a weapon and two counts each of first-degree assault and armed criminal action, according to court documents.

Lanigan was charged with one count each of second-degree murder, first-degree assault and second-degree assault and two counts each of armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon, according to court documents. Both are being held without bond.

Officers in the Warrensburg Police Department responded to a call around 12:10 a.m. that shots broke out following a fight at a party in the 400 block Grover Street residence in Johnson County, court documents said. Police said they found three victims at the scene with gunshot wounds.

One of the victims, Maliyah Lakey, died after suffering a gunshot wound to the back and lifesaving attempts failed after police found her in an alley near the house, police said. The other victims were taken to area hospitals and treated.

One resident and witness told police they invited people over social media to celebrate a friend’s birthday, but Lanigan arrived even though he didn’t get along with some of the host’s friends. Witnesses told police that Lanigan pulled a handgun on several party attendees before a fight broke out between him and Harrison.

One witness told police that Lanigan, Harrison and others started arguing and two guns were being waved. Another witness told police that Lanigan saw someone he had a “beef” with, said he wanted to kill him and pulled a gun to his face, but it wouldn’t fire despite repeated attempts to rerack it, leading to the large fight. Lanigan then ran onto the porch, where more people had gathered and some witnesses said the fight continued, according to court documents.

Witnesses said Harrison and Lanigan had both left the residence, one through the back door and the other through the front, when they heard gunshots.

In the house on Grover Street, police found two bullets, a bloodied curtain and a broken wine bottle, among other items.

Around 12:40 a.m., Harrison’s uncle whom he lives with, told police he found Harrison in the kitchen but then he quickly exited the house and told his uncle that Lakey, his girlfriend, had been shot before he was notified by phone that she had died. Harrison got upset, left in Lakey’s vehicle, returned to grab a bag and left in the vehicle again, according to court documents.

Family members told police they saw Harrison cleaning a gun with paper towels, when Harrison’s brother told him to leave the house. Harrison’s brother said they had previously shot the revolver on a family farm in July. The next morning Harrison’s uncle told police he found paper towels and a bloody shirt in the trash can and an open bottle of bleach on the kitchen counter, according to court documents.

During searches of Harrison’s residence and the family farm, police found a bloody shirt and two .38 Special shell casings.

A witness who said they knew Harrison told police he appeared to have a gun during the party. After the shooting, the witness said Harrison left in Lakey’s car wearing a white T-shirt and later returned wearing a white tank top and no longer had the gun.

One witness told police they saw someone shoot Lakey and then pick her up and carry her down the alleyway with assistance from another male, according to court documents. The witness said they approached when they noticed Lakey had been shot, but the two men dropped the body, and the shooter hid the gun in his front waistband before the two ran down the alley. The witness told police they don’t think the shooter meant to hit Lakey, but happened to be shooting in her direction when she was hit.