Shooting in Kansas college town leaves three dead and two injured - and one victim was in the area to avoid 'all the violence' in a nearby city

  • The shooting occurred around 1.45am near police headquarters of Lawrence
  • Authorities say around 20 gunshots were fired but it is unknown what led to it
  • Victims are: Leah Brown, 22; Colwin Henderson, 20; and Tremel Dean, 24
  • Some of the injured were struck in a large crowd after a University of Kansas college basketball game
  • No supects have been identified and no arrests have been made as of Sunday 
By ASSOCIATED PRESS and MARY KEKATOS FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
PUBLISHED: 16:49 EDT, 1 October 2017 | UPDATED: 21:23 EDT, 1 October 2017
Gunfire erupted early Sunday in a popular downtown area of a Kansas college town, leaving three people dead and two wounded, police said.
The shooting occurred around 1.45am on Massachusetts Street not far from police headquarters in Lawrence.
The area was crowded with people from concerts, bars and events at the nearby University of Kansas, which was celebrating the start of college basketball season.
Officers heard the more than 20 gunshots, Interim Police Chief Anthony Brixius said. Brixius said responding officers found several people wounded in a large crowd.
The victims who died were identified as Leah Elizabeth Brown, 22; Colwin Lynn Henderson, 20; and Tremel Dupree Dean, 24. None was a student at the school, according to university spokeswoman Erinn Barcomb-Peterson.
A shooting around 1.45am in Lawrence, Kansas, left three people dead and two wounded (Pictured, victim Leah Elizabeth Brown, 22)
+7
The victims have been identified as Leah Elizabeth Brown, 22; Colwin Lynn Henderson, 20 (pictured); and Tremel Dupree Dean, 24
+7
A shooting around 1.45am in Lawrence, Kansas, left three people dead and two wounded. The victims have been identified as Leah Elizabeth Brown, 22 (left); Colwin Lynn Henderson, 20 (right); and Tremel Dupree Dean, 24
About 20 gunshots rang out on the 1000 block of Massachusetts Street (pictured), but it is unknown why the shooting occurred or who is responsible
+7
About 20 gunshots rang out on the 1000 block of Massachusetts Street (pictured), but it is unknown why the shooting occurred or who is responsible
The names of the wounded victims weren't immediately released. They were being treated for injuries not believed to be life-threatening, according to police. 
Police didn't say what led to the shooting, and no arrests had been made as of Sunday afternoon. 
Lawrence resident Kyeeton Soukup told the Lawrence Journal-World he was inside Pyramid Pizza when someone came in and shouted: 'Oh my God, there has been a shooting outside!' 
Soukup said he ran outside and saw two shooting victims on the sidewalk. He said paramedics arrived shortly after. Share
Colwin Henderson, one of the victims, pleaded guilty in September 2016 to two counts of aggravated battery and one count of criminal discharge of a firearm, according to court records indicate. 
His mother, Novel Carter, told The Kansas City Star that he was trying to turn his life around particularly because, 10 months ago, his girlfriend gave birth to a baby girl. 
'[He was] trying to change around for his baby he loved so much,' she said.
Jordan Henderson, the victim's 18-year-old brother, said he believed Colwin was just in the 'wrong place, wrong time'.
Victim Colwin Henderson (pictured) pleaded guilty in September 2016 to two counts of aggravated battery and one count of criminal discharge of a firearm, according to court records indicate
+7
Victim Colwin Henderson (pictured) pleaded guilty in September 2016 to two counts of aggravated battery and one count of criminal discharge of a firearm, according to court records indicate
According to his mother, Novel Carter, Henderson (pictured) was trying to turn his life around particularly because, 10 months ago, his girlfriend gave birth to a baby girl
+7
According to his mother, Novel Carter, Henderson (pictured) was trying to turn his life around particularly because, 10 months ago, his girlfriend gave birth to a baby girl
Leah's mother, Gretchen Brown (pictured, right, with Leah) said she had encouraged her daugher to the town of Lawrence instead of Westport, because of 'all the violence'
+7
Leah's mother, Gretchen Brown (pictured, right, with Leah) said she had encouraged her daugher to the town of Lawrence instead of Westport, because of 'all the violence'
According to Leah's friend, Courtney Michelle Germany, were leaving a bar at closing time and walking to their car when the gunshots rang out. Leah (pictured) reportedly yelled 'I've been shot' before dropping to the ground
+7
According to Leah's friend, Courtney Michelle Germany, were leaving a bar at closing time and walking to their car when the gunshots rang out. Leah (pictured) reportedly yelled 'I've been shot' before dropping to the ground
Gretchen Brown, the mother of victim Leah Brown, told The Kansas City Star that she encouraged her 22-year-old daughter to go to the town of Lawrence instead of Westport, because of 'all the violence'.
A Facebook post from the victim's friend, Courtney Michelle Germany, who was with Leah when she was killed, read: 'A stray bullet from another senseless act of gun violence murdered my best friend last night....This madness needs to end! WE DIDNT GO TO WESTPORT BECAUSE WE WERE TRYING TO AVOID THIS!!!!!! ....because what's the worst that could happen in Lawrence...' 
Germany told Leah's mother that the two friends had left Brothers Bar & Grill on Massachusetts Street at closing time and were walking to their car when they saw what appeared to be a fistfight just up the street.
Then came the gunshots. According to Germany, Leah yelled 'I've been shot' before dropping to the ground.
Leah's mother said her daughter was on medical leave from basic training at the US Navy boot camp in Great Lakes, Illinois and was planning to return later this fall. 
'She wanted to be a Navy jet mechanic,' said Leah's stepfather, John Carroll.