OSAGE COUNTY, KS — A tragic and violent confrontation early Saturday morning on South Topeka Avenue has left the Osage County community in shock. Stephen McMillan, 22, was killed outside his home in a deadly exchange of gunfire with law enforcement officers. His 77-year-old grandfather was also struck by a bullet but is expected to recover following treatment for non-life-threatening injuries. The incident also resulted in four law enforcement officers being injured, adding to the shock and sorrow that has gripped the rural community.
The incident unfolded around 10:24 a.m. when multiple 911 calls reported a domestic disturbance at the McMillan residence. Deputies from the Osage County Sheriff’s Office, alongside Kansas Highway Patrol troopers, responded to the scene to investigate. Upon their arrival, Stephen McMillan was outside, and gunfire quickly erupted. It remains unclear exactly what transpired in the first moments of the confrontation, but McMillan reportedly fired at officers, prompting them to return fire.
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In the aftermath, three Osage County deputies and one Kansas Highway Patrol trooper were injured. Two of the deputies required surgery and remain in recovery, while the third was treated and released. The trooper, who was struck during the exchange, is reported in stable condition and is being treated at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Despite the violence of the incident, officers were able to neutralize the threat, and McMillan was pronounced dead at the scene.
Inside the residence, McMillan’s elderly grandfather was hit by a bullet but is expected to recover fully after being transported to the hospital. Authorities confirmed that no other individuals were seriously injured in the exchange, although the emotional toll on the family and the community has been immense.
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) has taken over the investigation, working to reconstruct the sequence of events leading to the shooting. Investigators are conducting interviews, reviewing forensic evidence, and piecing together how the situation escalated so quickly from a domestic disturbance to a deadly confrontation.
Neighbors and community members have expressed their disbelief over the event, describing the McMillan family as quiet, devout, and generally involved in the close-knit rural community. The violence that unfolded has left residents stunned, with many offering their sympathies to the injured officers, the grandfather, and the family. The normally peaceful area, where homes are spread out and law enforcement responses are typically less urgent, is now processing the emotional and physical toll of this tragic incident.
As the investigation continues, the Osage County community is coming together to support those affected, with a particular focus on healing the emotional wounds left by such a shocking turn of events.