On the evening of November 24, 2021, 18-year-old Peyton James Whitaker of Topeka, Kansas, was fatally shot at a residence in the 200 block of Yorkshire Drive in Lawrence. Lawrence officers found Whitaker with a gunshot wound around 9:15 p.m.; he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators say two people from Topeka were arrested on December 1, 2021, in McPherson County after a coordinated effort by local and state agencies. Mehki McDaniel, 20, was taken into custody on suspicion of second-degree murder and felony theft; Ansley Fogle, 24, was arrested on suspicion of interference with law enforcement and obstructing apprehension or prosecution. Court records described that McDaniel and an associate had stolen multiple firearms and were attempting to sell them in the home’s basement. While McDaniel was demonstrating a modified Glock, the gun accidentally discharged and struck Whitaker in the side.

Family and friends remembered Peyton as kind-hearted, devoted to his family, pets, and the outdoors, and willing to help others. Does anyone with knowledge of Peyton or the events that night have information to share?