Jury Convicts Lawrence Man of Attempted First Degree Murder and Nine Other Charges

Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson announces late Thursday (12.19.19) a jury convicted Lawrence resident Tommy J. May, 60, of 10 charges that stemmed from the crimes he committed on July 2, 2018.  May’s convictions include one count of attempted murder in the first degree, one count of attempted murder in the second degree, aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer, possession of methamphetamine, criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, interference with law enforcement, and three counts of criminal damage to property.   

The Court scheduled May’s sentencing for February 13th at 3:00 p.m.  The Court also ordered a pre-sentence investigation be completed and revoked May’s bond. 

Investigation in the case began on July 2, 2018 at about 9:30 p.m. when officers with the Lawrence Police Department were dispatched to a shooting in the 700 block of West 25th Street.  When the first officer arrived at the location he found Victim One with a gunshot wound to his back, making him unable to move.  While the officer was aiding Victim One a witness notified him of a second victim.  The officer had to search for Victim Two as she was terrified and was hiding in shrubbery.  Victim Two had been shot through the face and into the shoulder.  Victim One was transported by air to the Kansas University Medical Center and Victim Two was transported by ground ambulance to Overland Park Regional Medical Center.   

Several witnesses identified May to LPD Officers as the suspect and reported May fled the crime scene in a green SUV.  A patrolling LPD sergeant observed the defendant’s vehicle at the intersection of 23rd Street and Alabama. The sergeant began to follow the vehicle and May accelerated, fleeing from the officer. May turned onto Louisiana Street and ultimately crashed into a fire hydrant at the intersection of 21st and Louisiana. May then dislodged his vehicle from the hydrant ramming the sergeant’s patrol vehicle. May then drove his vehicle directly at the sergeant, striking him with his vehicle before fleeing back down Louisiana Street.  May turned onto 22nd Street and fled from his vehicle on foot. Law enforcement established a perimeter around the area and May was arrested. 

As Officers investigated the crime they determined that May shot Victim Two inside his apartment. May had attacked Victim Two, striking Victim Two over the head twice with a handgun prior to shooting her.  May’s neighbors heard the gunshot, witnessed Victim Two running out of the building with May in pursuit.  The bullet had entered the left side of Victim Two’s face, parallel to the bridge of her nose, exited her left cheek, continued in a downward direction, entered her left shoulder, and exited out her upper left back.  

Victim One attempted to intervene and stop the attack on Victim Two and May responded by shooting him in the torso.  The bullet entered Victim One’s upper back, transected his spine, and destroyed two vertebrae. 

It was discovered that May was paroled from a prison sentence on August 18, 2017 for a 2004 robbery in Saline County.  May was also convicted in a 1984 Sedgwick County case for two counts of aggravated robbery. 

May’s jury trial was held in the Division Four Courtroom.  It began on Monday, December 9 with jury selection.  Opening statements were delivered the next day and the trial continued throughout the week.  On Monday, December 16th the Court heard an unrelated matter and May’s case was not taken up.  The trial reconvened the morning of Tuesday the 17th and it continued until both sides rested their cases late Wednesday afternoon.  Closing statements were delivered Thursday starting at approximately 10 o’clock and the case went to the jury at 12:30 p.m.  The jury deliberated for about four hours prior to returning its verdict. 

The Honorable James McCabria presided over the trial.  The case was investigated by the Lawrence Police Department and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. Deputy District Attorney David Melton and Senior Assistant District Attorney Alice Walker represented the State of Kansas.

*Rule 226 - Kansas Rules of Professional Conduct
3.6 Advocate: Trial Publicity
3.8 Advocate: Special Responsibilities of a Prosecutor