Man killed at Lawrence City Hall Monday displayed ‘erratic behavior’ the day before
A Buffalo, Minnesota, man was removed from the Lawrence Kansas Turnpike Authority service station less than 24 hours before a Lawrence city employee shot and killed him Monday after a physical altercation at City Hall .
Omar Dominguez Gavilan, 28, forced his way through a locked door at Lawrence City Hall, at 6 E. Sixth St., around 8 a.m. Monday, according to Lawrence Police Department communications manager Laura McCabe.
Gavilan reportedly went to the fourth floor, where the city manager’s office is located, where he broke through a door into an area not accessible to the public, McCabe said.
Employees attempted to stop Gavilan as he made his way to the fourth floor, McCabe said, and they notified law enforcement of Gavilan’s presence.
An on-duty court security officer, who has not been identified by police, approached Gavilan, McCabe said, and Gavilan “did not comply” with the security officer’s orders and a physical altercation ensued.
During the altercation, the security guard shot and killed the man, McCabe said.
Officers have not released details of the altercation pending the completion of an investigation, McCabe said. The employee is authorized to carry a firearm, but is not a member of the Lawrence Police Department.
The city employee has been placed on administrative leave pending the investigation, which is standard protocol, McCabe said.
Man removed from KTA due to ‘erratic behavior’ day prior to fatal shooting
Gavilan was reportedly traveling through Kansas on a Greyhound bus, McCabe said. On Sunday evening, the Kansas Highway Patrol was called to remove him from the Lawrence Kansas Turnpike Authority service station east of the city “due to erratic behavior.”
The Kansas Highway Patrol transported Gavilan to the Amtrak station in Lawrence, McCabe said.
Gavilan is from Buffalo, Minnesota, about an hour outside of Minneapolis, and around seven and a half hours away from Lawrence.
Lawrence City Hall will remain closed through Wednesday, according to a Facebook post from the city. It will reopen on Thursday.
During its closure, all services rendered at city hall will be unavailable, the post said, including municipal court and utility billing.
Tuesday’s city commission meeting will still be held, a post from the Lawrence Police Department said.
This story was originally published January 6, 2026 at 4:14 PM.
