Curtis Ayers, the man who shot and killed a KCK police detective, was sentenced to life without parole on Tuesday.
Prosecutors agreed not to seek the death penalty when 29-year-old Ayers pleaded guilty in January to capital murder in Lancaster's death.
He was sentenced for 10 charges in connection to the death of Det. Brad Lancaster: capital murder, kidnapping, aggravated burglary, battery, and assault on a law enforcement officer. Eight of the charges were given consecutive sentences.
EXTENDED COVERAGE:
Det. Brad Lancaster laid to rest in Kansas City, Kansas
Honoring a hero: Hundreds gather for candlelight vigil in KCK to remember Detective Brad Lancaster
Curtis Ayers, man charged in KCK detective Brad Lancaster’s death, pleads guilty
At Tuesday's sentencing Kansas City, Kansas Police Department Deputy Chief Mike York said that Lancaster had been dedicated to serving others.
The 39-year-old served in the military before going into law enforcement, first as a deputy with the Platte County Sheriff’s Office, then joining the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department where he rose to the rank of detective.
Det. Brad Lancaster
Police were called to Hollywood Casino near the Kansas Speedway in May 2016 after casino security saw Ayers loitering in the parking lot. Lancaster confronted Ayers, who shot the detective several times and fled the scene in Lancaster's unmarked car, according to investigators.
Ayers was arrested in Kansas City, Missouri, after he was shot by a police officer while allegedly trying to steal a woman's car.
Ayers still faces charges in Jackson and Leavenworth counties.
Officials held a news conference after the sentencing. Watch it below:
Lancaster is survived by his mother, sister, wife of 20 years, Jamie, and two daughters, Jillian and Briana.
Lancaster's mother, Carolynn, was in the courtroom as Judge Bill Klapper sentenced Ayers to life without parole for the capital murder charge.
Klapper tacked on an additional 41 years for the other nine felony crimes the 29-year-old Tonganoxie man committed.
"I hope he's miserable. I do, I really do. But he took a chunk out of our family," Carolynn Lancaster said.
In one instance, Lancaster won't be there for Jillian's annual father-daughter dance Wednesday.
"He's gotta be the one to sleep at night knowing what he's done. And how many lives he's affected. He's affected so many lives," explained Carolynn Lancaster. "In the end he has to answer to God, and that's the judge for him in my opinion. Karma can be a bear. He has to deal with it."
Klapper told the standing-room only courtroom there is no appropriate punishment for the crimes Ayers committed.
"I hope he has to stop and think about everything he has done, what a good person he's hurt, and he's put such a whole void in our lives and we're struggling hard to get through this," Carolynn Lancaster said.
Ayers declined to make any remarks during the 30-minute hearing.
"When you take a life in this county this district attorney's office is going to do everything in my power to make sure that you are taken off the streets of Wyandotte County for as long as possible," Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark A. Dupree Sr. said in a news conference after sentencing.
Law enforcement also recognized Lancaster's legacy.
"Never will he be forgotten,” KCKPD Deputy Chief Tyrone Garner said. “He will continue to live in our hearts in our minds."
-----
Follow 41 Action News on Twitter:
Like 41 Action News on Facebook:
