Salina man dead after exchanging gunfire with police and state troopers

Charles Rankin, Salina Journal
·2 min read
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One man is dead after Salina police officers and troopers from the Kansas Highway Patrol exchanged gunfire with him Wednesday evening.

According to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, which is conducting the investigation of the shooting, officers were dispatched at around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday to 544 N. 12th St. in Salina after learning a man with a felony warrant was at the location.

The man, Larry Wray, was reported by the owner of the property to be in a detached garage east of the residence. After entering the garage, officers placed Wray under arrest for the warrant.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is investigating an officer-involved shooting that left one dead after shootout in Salina.
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is investigating an officer-involved shooting that left one dead after shootout in Salina.

KBI: After arrest, a second man was spotted in garage

The KBI said that preliminary information indicates that after the arrest, an officer heard someone else inside the garage, who they identified as Jesse Wray.

"A K9 officer gave commands to Jesse to exit the garage, but he refused," the KBI said. "He was holding a gun and made threats to shoot if law enforcement entered the garage."

After barricading himself in the garage, Salina officers set a perimeter around the building and called for the Salina SWAT team to respond, with troopers from KHP also arriving on the scene to assist SPD in the meantime.

KBI said while waiting for SWAT, officers saw fire and smoke in the garage, after which the large garage door opened and a woman walked out, followed by Jesse Wray.

Gunfire exchanged after Jesse Wray left garage

At this time, gunfire was exchanged, the KBI said, with SPD officers and KHP troopers firing rounds that struck Jesse Wray. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 8:45 p.m.

According to the KBI, the woman was accessed at Salina Regional Health Center and released, and no law enforcement officers were injured in the shooting.

Authorities didn't say whether Larry Wray and Jesse Wray were related.

The KBI said it will conduct an independent investigation into this officer-involved shooting and will present the findings to the Saline County Attorney for review when the investigation is complete. The KBI said this is an ongoing investigation.

This article originally appeared on Salina Journal: Salina police and Kansas troopers kill man after gunfire exchange