A quiet stretch of farmland south of Topeka became the scene of a violent and surreal Saturday morning when a routine domestic‑disturbance call exploded into an exchange of gunfire, leaving four law‑enforcement officers and a 77‑year‑old grandfather wounded — and the suspect, 22‑year‑old Stephen M. McMillan, dead at the scene.
At about 10:24 a.m., dispatchers from the Osage County Sheriff’s Office and the Kansas Highway Patrol responded to a farmhouse on 11222 S. Topeka Ave., near Carbondale, Kansas, after a woman in the home dialed 911 to report a “domestic disturbance”. The region, typically tranquil and close‑knit, was rocked when law‑enforcement officers encountered McMillan standing outside the residence.
ALT TEXT: Yellow tape reading “caution” in all capitalized letters against a blurred green background
According to officials, the situation deteriorated rapidly. “After being on scene for less than 10 minutes, gunfire erupted,” said Col. Erik Smith of the Kansas Highway Patrol. Three deputies from the Osage County Sheriff’s Office and one trooper from the Kansas Highway Patrol were struck by gunfire. In the exchange of fire, multiple officers, including an uninjured trooper, returned fire. The investigation later reported five officers opened fire in total.
McMillan was pronounced dead at the scene after being struck by gunfire. In addition, the suspect’s grandfather — identified only as a 77‑year‑old male — was also wounded in the incident and remains hospitalized, though he is expected to survive.
The wounded officers are now in recovery. Two deputies underwent surgery and were reported in good condition; the third deputy has been discharged. The Kansas Highway Patrol trooper was transferred to the University of Kansas Medical Center, and his condition is reported as stable. Agents with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (“KBI”) have taken over the scene and stress the investigation is ongoing.
Neighbors of the McMillan family described the household as deeply rooted in the community, regular church‑goers, and unfailingly polite — making the violence all the more jarring. “Wonderful, strong Christian family. They’re just good people,” remarked neighbor Heather Roberts. “I just would’ve never imagined him doing something like this.”
At this point, authorities say there is no immediate threat to the public, and roads in the area have reopened. The KBI emphasizes that the facts presented are preliminary, and more detailed findings — including motive, precise sequence of events, and a full account of how the grandfather was wounded — will follow. The rural community, still processing the shock, is rallying in support of the officers and the family alike.
