For immediate release
May 10, 2016

The Tonganoxie man who fled police into Kansas City, MO, on Monday, and fired shots at motorists, injuring a woman on U.S. 71 in the mid-afternoon, has been charged with multiple felony counts, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced today.

Curtis R. Ayers, dob: 5/19/1987, faces Assault 1st Degree, two counts of Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Resisting Arrest and three counts of Armed Criminal Action.

According to court records, Kansas City police were dispatched to the area of Bannister Road and Highway 71 on a vehicle that matched the description of a suspect vehicle involved in the shooting of a police officer in Kansas City, Kan. According to victims and witnesses there, Ayers fled that vehicle on foot and displayed a long gun. He confronted a woman travelling in her vehicle on Highway 71. He pointed a gun at her and told her to get out of her car. He shot two rounds at her vehicle. When she realized she had been shot, she pulled over on the highway. She identified Ayers as the man who shot her. A second victim stated Ayers fired at his vehicle, striking it one time. A police officer had begun to follow the suspect vehicle, but he fled until the vehicle collided with a bridge support. Another witness, a police officer, saw smoke coming from the suspect's weapon and he fired a single shot from his patrol rifle, stopping the suspect. Ayers was quickly taken into custody and given medical attention.

Prosecutors have requested a bond of $250,000 cash.

For more information, contact:

Michael Mansur
Director of Communication
Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office
Jean Peters Baker, Prosecutor
Work : (816) 881-3812
Mobile: (816) 674-3954
mmansur@jacksongov.org
http://jacksoncountyprosecutor.com

*Charges are only accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until the defendant is either found guilty or has pleaded.