A Kansas family is reeling after a violent confrontation at a rural farmhouse left a grandfather injured, four law enforcement officers wounded, and a 22-year-old man dead. The deadly encounter unfolded in a span of just ten minutes on Saturday morning, turning a quiet stretch of 11222 South Topeka Avenue into the scene of a chaotic gun battle.
According to authorities, officers were dispatched at 10:24 a.m. following a 911 call from a woman inside the home who reported a domestic disturbance involving 22-year-old Stephen McMillan. When Osage County deputies and a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper arrived, they found McMillan’s 77-year-old grandfather standing outside near the residence. As they attempted to assess the situation, gunfire suddenly erupted.
Investigators say McMillan opened fire without warning, immediately striking three deputies and one state trooper. The initial rounds forced officers to scramble for cover behind patrol vehicles as they called for backup and tried to return fire. For several tense minutes, bullets tore through the quiet farmland, with officers shouting commands and neighbors sheltering indoors as the gunfight continued.
Five officers ultimately fired back at McMillan, ending the shootout when he was struck and killed near the front of the property. Amid the chaos, McMillan’s grandfather was also hit, though investigators have not yet determined whether he was shot by his grandson or was inadvertently struck by police return fire. He was rushed to a nearby hospital and remains in stable condition, with doctors expecting him to survive.
The wounded officers are also expected to recover, though the emotional toll on the small law enforcement community is significant. Residents in the area, shaken by the violence, say the McMillan family had lived there for decades. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation continues to review the events leading up to the confrontation as the community searches for answers in the wake of a tragic and senseless outburst of violence.
About the Author
