Lawrence police investigate fatal stabbing blocks from KU campus, 1 person in custody
Lawrence police are investigating a Wednesday morning homicide that happened blocks from the University of Kansas campus.
A person was fatally stabbed at about 8:20 a.m. in the parking lot of a Dillons Food Store on West 23rd Street, said Patrick Compton, a spokesman with the Lawrence Police Department. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
The victim’s dog was also injured.
Once officers arrived on scene, they found a man still holding a knife and convinced him to drop it.
Robert Earl Davis, 54, of Lawrence, was booked into Douglas County Jail on suspicion of second degree murder and cruelty to animals. No charges have been filed as of mid afternoon Wednesday.
The dog was transported to the Lawrence Humane Society, stabilized, and then transferred to a local animal hospital. The dog is expected to survive.
The Dillons store is located roughly four blocks, or half a mile, from campus where fall classes begin Monday.
The victim’s identity has not yet been released.
Police ask that anyone in the vicinity who witnessed the incident call the non-emergency number at 785-832-7509.
This story was originally published August 18, 2021 at 12:37 PM.