Stephen McMillan, 22, was killed Saturday morning in a shocking confrontation outside a residence on South Topeka Avenue near Carbondale, while his 77-year-old grandfather was struck by gunfire and hospitalized in stable condition. The rapid unfolding of events left four law enforcement officers injured within minutes of arrival, highlighting the sudden and violent nature of the incident in a typically quiet rural community.
Authorities said the response began shortly after 10:24 a.m., when multiple 911 calls reported a domestic disturbance at the McMillan residence. Deputies from the Osage County Sheriff’s Office arrived alongside Kansas Highway Patrol troopers to investigate. When officers approached the home, Stephen McMillan was outside, and within moments, gunfire erupted. The specific actions and words exchanged in those first critical seconds remain under investigation, but McMillan fired at officers immediately, prompting a return of gunfire.
Three Osage County deputies and one Kansas Highway Patrol trooper were hit in the exchange. Two of the deputies required surgical treatment and remain in recovery, while the third deputy was released after treatment. The trooper struck is being treated at the University of Kansas Medical Center and is reported in stable condition. Despite the chaos, officers successfully neutralized the threat when McMillan was killed at the scene.
Inside the residence, McMillan’s 77-year-old grandfather was struck by a bullet. He was transported to a hospital and is expected to recover fully. Authorities have confirmed that no other individuals were seriously injured in the exchange. Investigators with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) are working to reconstruct the sequence of events, interviewing witnesses, reviewing forensic evidence, and determining how the incident escalated so rapidly.
Neighbors and community members have described the McMillan family as quiet, devout, and generally involved in their rural community. Many expressed shock that such a violent event could erupt in a neighborhood where homes sit far apart and law enforcement calls usually involve gradual situations rather than immediate life-threatening danger. Residents have emphasized their sympathy for the injured officers and the grandfather, acknowledging the emotional and physical toll on all involved.
