KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A man wanted by U.S. Marshals for a homicide in Omaha, Nebraska, led law enforcement on a chase from Jefferson County into Lawrence before being shot and killed by officers.
A portion of Lawrence about one mile south of the downtown area was closed Monday afternoon following a police chase and deadly shooting near 19th and Massachusetts streets.
The Kansas Highway Patrol initiated a chase with a vehicle that had two people inside after checking the residence of known associates of the man wanted by federal authorities.
The man, according to investigators, was considered a suspect for a homicide in Omaha.
University of Kansas police joined the pursuit when it entered Lawrence.
Police decided to use a tactical vehicle intervention to stop the vehicle in the 1900 block of Massachusetts Street because speeds were lower at that intersection.
After successfully stopping the vehicle, one suspect — an unidentified white male — allegedly exited the vehicle with a handgun and started "wielding" at officers.
An exchange of gunfire occurred between police and the suspect. It's unclear who fired first.
Police struck and killed the suspect.
"A situation like this affects the community, it affects law enforcement, it affects everyone around," said Deputy Chief James Anguiano, of the University of Kansas Public Safety Office. "In order to have these outside agencies complete these investigations, is very pertinent to the facts that are going on, so we get the facts of the case."
The second person, who was a passenger in the vehicle, was not shot during the exchange and was taken into custody.
Lawrence police said in a tweet that the area around 19th and Massachusetts streets is closed north to 19th Street, south to 20th Street, east to Rhode Island Street and west to Kentucky Street.
Traffic is blocked in all directions, and drivers are advised to avoid the area. The Johnson County Sheriff's Office is leading the investigation.
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Correction: An early version of this story incorrectly identified the 1900 block of Massachusetts Street as downtown Lawrence, but the incident actually happened about one mile south of the downtown area.
