TOPEKA, Kan. — Heartbreak and grief are spreading across Kansas after police identified one of the victims killed in a shooting outside a popular Lawrence bar early Saturday morning. The victim has been named as 18-year-old Aidan Knowles, whose death has left his family and friends devastated and searching for understanding after what authorities describe as a sudden act of violence.

The Lawrence Police Department confirmed the identity through a Facebook post shared by Aidan’s father, Bobby Knowles. In the emotional message, Knowles said his son was shot and killed outside a bar in Lawrence during the early morning hours. He explained that Aidan was “simply in the wrong place at the wrong time” and that the family is struggling to cope with the loss. “We are completely devastated,” Knowles wrote, describing the pain of losing his son so unexpectedly.

Police say the shooting happened around 2 a.m. Saturday at the Jayhawk Cafe, also known as The Hawk, located near 13th and Ohio streets. Officers responding to the scene found two people suffering from gunshot wounds outside the bar. Emergency crews quickly worked to provide aid as police secured the area and began their investigation.

Aidan, who was just 18 years old, was pronounced dead at the scene. A second victim, a 16-year-old boy, was rushed to a local trauma center in critical condition. According to Aidan’s father, the injured teen is one of his son’s close friends. By what the family described as a miracle, the 16-year-old survived the shooting despite the severity of his injuries.

As the investigation unfolded, police identified two suspects connected to the shooting. Authorities say one suspect is facing charges of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and aggravated assault. The second suspect has been charged in connection with felony murder and aggravated assault. Police have not released the suspects’ names or details about what led up to the gunfire.

Both suspects have been booked into the Douglas County Jail as the case moves forward through the legal system. Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting, including what sparked the violence outside the bar. Meanwhile, Aidan’s family is asking for prayers and support as they mourn the loss of a young life cut short, while the Lawrence community grapples with yet another deadly act of gun violence.