Man sentenced to life in prison for fatal shooting near Washburn University

A 22-year-old man has been sentenced to life in prison in a deadly shooting near Washburn University in Topeka.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that Zachary Buck-Schrag likely won’t be eligible for parole until he is at least 71 under the sentence imposed Monday.

He was convicted in February of first-degree murder and several other counts in the January 2018 killing of 37-year-old Travis Larsen.  The shooting briefly prompted the university to issue an alert asking students to shelter in place.

Buck-Schrag argued the shooting was self-defense.  He contended that Larsen and another man threatened him and a friend by flashing an ammunition clip and making unfriendly remarks.

Larsen was found suffering from a fatal gunshot wound to the head in a vehicle that had left the roadway.

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