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Two confirmed dead: Domestic report escalates to high speed chase, rollover crash
crime scene dec 2024
Great Bend Police officers investigate the scene of a reported domestic dispute that resulted in the death of a Great Bend woman Friday. The male suspect, who led local law enforcement from two counties in a high-speed chase into Stafford County, was also pronounced dead at the scene of a rollover crash on U.S. 50. photo by Dee Duryee

Two people are confirmed dead as a domestic incident at a Mexican establishment in Great Bend escalated into a high speed chase into Stafford County Friday morning according to accumulated agency reports.

The Great Bend Police Department was called to 1500 block of Seventh Street for a reported dispute at approximately 9:12 a.m. Friday where it was determined upon arrival that one person had been shot. 

Officers observed a suspect fleeing the scene at a high rate of speed toward South U.S. 281 where a pursuit by a Barton County Sheriff’s deputy began. A dense fog Friday morning added to driving difficulties as the chase escalated to speeds in excess of 90 mph, as well as preventing the pursuing officers from BCSO and GBPD from obtaining accurate identification of the vehicle tag or the number of occupants of the vehicle. During the chase, officers were told that a requested aircraft to assist in the pursuit would be unable to comply due to the foggy conditions.


ambulance stafford co
Great Bend police officers and a rescue vehicle from the Great Bend Fire Department arrive on the scene. - photo by Judy Duryee

Stafford County law enforcement responded in assistance from the south, and stop sticks were deployed as more BCSO officers joined the chase. Effective deployment of the stop sticks resulted in damaging both tires on the driver’s side of the vehicle, identified as a white Chevrolet pickup. The chase approached the St. John roundabout at approximately 9:30 a.m., when the driver accessed U.S. 50 driving westbound via the west truck bypass at speeds approaching 100 mph. Law enforcement was able to engage the vehicle, which rolled across U.S. 50 into the south ditch and ending up on its wheels near the intersection of S. 60th Ave in Stafford County. 

Officers advancing upon the crash site were advised to use extreme caution so a drone was deployed, with the availability of K-9 unit available if necessary. At approximately 9:40 a.m. officers located the vehicle’s driver, who was deceased from an alleged self-inflicted gunshot wound; a Code Black was issued from the scene.

BCSO and Kansas Highway Patrol assisted with traffic control to one lane along the highway near the crash scene at approximately 10 a.m. The dense fog began to lift at approximately 10:30 a.m.


At the hospital

The female victim of the early morning incident in Great Bend was transported to University of Kansas Medical Center — Great Bend campus. The Barton County Coroner was summoned to the hospital at approximately 10:30 a.m. and the victim pronounced deceased. The Center for Counseling and Consultation was also notified to assist with family members.

Names of the victims and other details regarding this ongoing investigation will be released as they become available.