(image: Lawrence, Kansas Police Department Facebook)
Authorities in Lawrence, Kansas have released information about the recent shooting death of a Buffalo, Minnesota man at the City Hall in that city.
The Lawrence, Kansas Police are continuing their investigation into an incident that led to the January 5th shooting death of 28-year-old Omar Gavilan of Buffalo.
Officials say Gavilan was traveling through Kansas via a Greyhound bus. Officials say on Sunday, January 4th, the Kansas Highway Patrol was called to remove him from a service station area on I-70 just east of the City of Lawrence due to “erratic” behavior.
Authorities say the Highway Patrol transported Gavilan to the Amtrak station in Lawrence. Then just before 8 AM on Monday, January 5th, Gavilan entered the Lawrence City Hall building through a locked back door, proceeding up a stairwell to the 4th floor where he is said to have broken out a window within a security door to enter the office area. Employees said they notified authorities of an intruder alert and sought shelter. Moments later, an on-duty court security officer approached the Buffalo man, and reportedly requested that he put his hands behind his back. Officials say Gavilan did not comply, and a fight broke out with the security officer. Though complete details have not yet been released, it is said that during this time shots were fired.
Lawrence police officers were reportedly on the scene within seconds after the gunfire and along with security officers, began rendering aid to Gavilan. EMTs arrived shortly thereafter and continued aid, but eventually pronounced the man dead at the scene.
The Lawrence Police Department says its Investigations Unit will have a full report of the events sent to the Douglas County, Kansas District Attorney’s Office for review in the next 2 to 3 weeks. In the meantime, the city employee involved in the shooting is on administrative leave, which is standard in an incident of this type.
