FINNEY COUNTY—A southwest Kansas man is going to prison for a gunfight that occurred in July of 2025 that prompted the hospital to lock down.
Last month, Judge Natalie Morlock sentenced 20-year-old Michael D. Lara to 181 months in prison with 36- months of post releases supervision, according to the Finney County Attorney's office. Lara was 19 at the time of the crimes
Just after 5:30a.m. Wednesday July 15, 2025, police responded to report of a shooting at the Continental Apartments, 1408 W. Buffalo Jones Avenue, in Garden City, according to Garden City police spokesperson Erinn Reyes.
Officers arrived to find a victim had been shot, and the victim was transported to St. Catherine Hospital by Finney County EMS in serious condition.
After the victim was taken to the hospital, Officers were notified by hospital staff that before they arrived, two additional gunshot victims were dropped off at the emergency room by personal vehicle. The three victims were later transported to Wichita for further treatment.
To ensure the safety of staff and patients, St. Catherine Hospital was placed on lockdown following the arrival of the gunshot victims. The social media rumors regarding an active shooter at the hospital due to the lockdown were false, according to Reyes. "At no point was there an active shooter incident at the hospital."