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KANSAS CITY, Kan. – A Kansas City, Kan., police detective was shot multiple times near Kansas Speedway and rushed to the University of Kansas Hospital on Monday afternoon. Doctors performed surgery on the detective, but he died according to several police sources.

At about 5:15 p.m., KCK police confirmed the detective died at KU Hospital earlier in the afternoon. The KCK Fraternal Order of Police identified the detective as Brad Lancaster, and KCK police confirm that his family has been notified.

Police say that Detective Lancaster went to assist other officers who were responding to a call about a suspicious person near Hollywood Casino. They say suspect Curtis Ayers then took his vehicle and fled the scene.

“A detective was in the area of 700 block of Casino Avenue. At that time gunshots were exchanged. The detective was struck several times. He was taken to a hospital,” said Officer Patrick McCallop.

FOX 4 saw other KCK officers arrive to the hospital to show their support for Detective Lancaster.

The man suspected of shooting him, Ayers, was also accused of multiple carjackings and other shootings on Monday. The chaotic afternoon began around 12:30 when a gunman ambushed the KCK detective.

A man who lives in Basehor was in his garage around 1 p.m. when a man driving a stolen Toyota Camry drove into his open garage and demanded money and his car at gunpoint.

Victoria Gibson told FOX 4 her neighbor is lucky to be alive after Ayers confronted him inside his garage. Gibson said her neighbor told her the suspect looked like he was under the influence of something. Gibson said the suspect took off with her neighbor’s silver Ford Focus and left the stolen Camry in his garage. When the suspect left the stolen car in his garage, Gibson said her neighbor thought the ordeal was done, until he discovered the car had two small children inside.

Gibson said police took the kids out of the stolen Camry and left. She says her neighbor was shaken up, but she’s thankful he was not injured in the ordeal.

KCMO police then got word about Ayers and the vehicle he was believed to be driving, and began pursuing him at about 2:30 p.m. Police say he wrecked and attempted to take the woman’s vehicle after shooting at her.

Police then shot at him, striking him on 71 Highway near Bannister Road. Ayers and the woman were taken to hospitals with non-life threatening injuries.

A nearby witness described what he saw for FOX 4:

“We were working down here on the street lights and we heard a bang and thought it was a backfiring car and we heard another one and then we looked around the corner and saw the police and stuff all gathered around down here on 71, and then we heard a big bang and decided we better get down on the other side of the truck to protect ourselves,” said witness Ron Gillispie.

The silver Ford Focus Ayers is accused of stealing was recovered on 71 Highway.

At last check both the woman shot and Ayers were being treated at the hospital and expected to survive. FOX 4 will continue to have updates about this story throughout Monday night.

  • Multiple KCK detectives at a home in Basehor, Kan., Monday afternoon. Police reportedly found a vehicle that was possibly taken by the suspect in the detective's shooting. Basehor is approximately nine miles west of Kansas Speedway.
  • Multiple KCK detectives at a home in Basehor, Kan., Monday afternoon. Police reportedly found a vehicle that was possibly taken by the suspect in the detective's shooting. Basehor is approximately nine miles west of Kansas Speedway.

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