Three arrests in Kansas and a sealed indictment are connected to the shooting of Officer Trey Harris.
Three people were arrested Saturday night and Sunday morning in Saline County, Kansas, on conspiracy to commit capital murder charges.
The suspects, all Kansas residents, are Alex Karcher, 22, Xavier McCray, 22, Xavier Lewis, 24. They were booked into the jail in Saline County with a $1 million bond, according to Carbondale police.
The Kansas investigation culminated in a sealed indictment in Saline County that is associated with the July 31 shooting of Officer Harris in Carbondale. Since it is an ongoing investigation, however, the Carbondale Police Department cannot comment any further, the department said in a press release Wednesday.
The task force investigation team, led by the Illinois State Police, with assistance from the city of Carbondale Police Department and numerous local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, is continuing a comprehensive investigation, and is cooperating with the ongoing investigation in Kansas, Carbondale police said.
On July 31, two officers on patrol in the 700 block of North Robert A. Stalls Street in Carbondale responded to reports of gunshots fired in the area. The neighborhood was described as having “pockets” of criminal activity, but on the “smallest percentage” and not representative of the northeast area, or of Carbondale.
While driving toward the alleged source of the gunshots, officers saw a tan four-door Pontiac Grand Prix driving from the area at a high rate of speed. The officers gave chase, ultimately traveling north on North Marion Street, and east onto the 2400 block of Dillinger Road.
During the pursuit, at least one suspect in the Grand Prix fired several gunshots at officers, striking the police car in multiple spots including the windshield, and wounding one officer, which ended the pursuit. The report also stated that the police officers did not return fire during the chase.
The wounded officer, 26-year-old Trey Harris, was taken to Memorial Hospital of Carbondale, moved to the St. Louis area hospital for additional treatment and then later released.
The Pontiac Grand Prix was located by authorities on Dewmaine Road in Williamson County. It had been abandoned and “destroyed by fire.”
Even with the arrests over the weekend, the city of Carbondale is offering a $15,000 reward for information leading to the identity, arrest and conviction of any suspects in shooting.
