Worker shoots, kills intruder at Lawrence, Kansas city hall
A suspected intruder was fatally shot by an armed employee inside Lawrence, Kan., City Hall Monday, officials said.
The 28-year-old suspect “forced his way into the building, then went through a door” on the fourth floor and entered a secure area not open to the public around 8 a.m., according to a statement from the Lawrence Kansas Police Department.
The offices of the city manager, city attorney and budget director are on the fourth floor.
“City workers attempted to evict the man and a struggle began.” » the statement continues. “The man was fatally shot.”
No employees were injured.
Officials said the employee, whose name and job title were not released, was authorized to carry a firearm.
The deceased man, who has not been identified, is likely not from the Lawrence area, police said. It is not known whether he was armed.
Police Chief Rick Lockhart told reporters the department was reviewing surveillance video to determine the sequence of events leading up to the shooting and the suspect’s possible motive.
“We don’t know why,” Lockhart said. “It’s someone we don’t know.”
He added: “Their families are still being informed of their involvement in this incident, so out of respect for their privacy we are not going to release this information at this time. »
The Lawrence Kansas Police Department and the Douglas County Prosecutor’s Office are investigating.
The building, located about two miles north of the University of Kansas campus, was closed for the rest of the day Monday but is expected to reopen Tuesday. Municipal courts were scheduled to reopen Thursday.
