Kansas City, Kansas, police detective fatally shot

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A Kansas City, Kansas, police detective helping respond to a report of a suspicious person near a racetrack was fatally shot Monday, and a parolee sought for questioning in that and an ensuing string of reported carjackings was wounded after a shootout with police in neighboring Missouri.

The detective was shot at least twice about 12:30 p.m. near the Kansas Speedway, underwent surgery at a hospital and later died, his department said in a statement.

"Our detective fought a good fight, but unfortunately he died from his injuries," Kansas City, Kansas, Police Chief Terry Zeigler said in a tweet. "Thanks for the support & prayers."

Police did not immediately release his name, though Carolynn Lancaster told the Kansas City Star the detective was her son, 39-year-old Brad Lancaster.

The KCK Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #4 also identified the victim as Lancaster, CBS affiliate KCTV reported.

Police said the gunman, after wounding the detective, fled in the officer's unmarked car, then hijacked a vehicle with two children inside before abandoning it in nearby Basehor, Kansas, leaving those kids unharmed.

Police publicly appealed for help in trying to find Curtis Ayers, 28, for questioning in the shooting.

That Tonganoxie, Kansas, man ultimately was taken into custody in Kansas City, Missouri, when he crashed the car he was driving while being pursued by officers, then was shot by police after trying to carjack a woman's vehicle.

Victoria Gibson saw police at her neighbor's house and a strange car in the garage. She soon learned Ayers had driven the previously stolen car into the garage and then stolen her neighbor's car at gun point, KCTV reported.

"Was in the garage when the guy came barreling in, and he had stolen a car from the casino, I guess he told Jeff (her neighbor) that and that there were two children in the car," she said. "No one knew what this guy was going to do...he said the guy was strung out on something."

Gibson said her neighbor gave up his keys and Ayers left.

"I think he was totally shocked there were children in the car and just thankful. He has two new twin baby girls of his own and he was very thankful also they weren't home," Gibson said.

The children's great grandmother said Ayers threw her granddaughter out of her car.

The children's mother hung onto the car for dear life. Her little boy and girl were in their car-seats in the back. Still, Ayers took off with the children. The mother suffered a possible broken arm and serious cuts. She was treated and released from the hospital, KCTV reported.

Ayers was hospitalized in stable condition, police spokesman Patrick McCallop said.

"The police department took the children, and I guess they are doing fine now since they are with the police," Gibson said.

Carolynn Lancaster, who couldn't immediately be reached by The Associated Press, told the Kansas City Star her son "was the rock of the family."

Brad Lancaster was a U.S. Air Force veteran who had served two tours of duty overseas, including one in Kuwait, the newspaper reported. Lancaster said her son had a wife and two daughters.

Ayers has had longstanding trouble with the law, having served prison time in Kansas in recent years for convictions involving child abandonment, fleeing or trying to elude law enforcers, and interference with a law enforcement officer, online Kansas Department of Corrections records show.

Ayers previously had been charged in North Carolina with offenses ranging from misdemeanor theft to possession of stolen goods and burglarizing vehicles, according to court records.