Two months after a shooting in Carbondale that left one individual dead and injured four law enforcement officers, all three Osage County Sheriff’s Deputies involved have returned to active duty.
According to a news release from the Osage County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Christian Moran, Corporal Clayton Hartpence and K-9 Deputy James Cason returned to full duty as of Wednesday. The release stated, “These three deputies showed incredible strength, resilience, and determination through their recovery. Watching them fight to heal and return to the work they love has been nothing short of inspiring.”
The Sheriff’s Office also thanked the community for its support, prayers and generosity for the injured deputies throughout their individual periods of recovery, saying, “Those prayers, that encouragement, and that kindness mattered more than you know—not just to the deputies, but to their families and to this entire Sheriff’s Office.”
Moran, Hartpence and Cason were three of four law enforcement officers, including Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Adam Ellis, and five individuals total were injured in the shootout that occurred in the late morning hours of November 15th, 11222 S Topeka Ave near Carbondale. According to reports from the KBI, the incident began rapidly unfolding after Kansas Highway Patrol troopers and Osage County deputies responded to a reported domestic violence incident that led to gunfire less than 10 minutes after authorities arrived.
Highway Patrol Superintendent Colonel Erik Smith says the suspect, 22-year-old Stephen McMillan, was outside the residence when authorities arrived. He was killed on-site.
McMillian’s grandfather was also hit by at least one bullet and hospitalized as a result.
