Topeka man found guilty in Lawrence fatal shooting

A man has been convicted in a shooting that killed three people in a popular downtown area of a Kansas college town.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports that jurors found 22-year-old Anthony Roberts Jr., of Topeka, guilty on Tuesday of two counts of first-degree felony murder and second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder.

Prosecutors said Roberts opened fire in October of 2017 as people were leaving bars, concerts and other events on the main downtown Lawrence street.  Roberts’ attorneys argued that he acted in self-defense after a confrontation.  The shooting killed 22-year-old Leah Brown, of Shawnee, 20-year-old Colwin Lynn Henderson, of Topeka, and 24-year-old Tre’Mel Dupree Dean-Rayton, of Topeka.  Two others were wounded but survived.

A second defendant was convicted previously of attempted voluntary manslaughter, and a third of misdemeanor battery.

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