I-35 back open near Gardner following chase, shots fired at deputy

GARDNER, Kan. -- Both the northbound and southbound lanes of Interstate 35 are back open Tuesday in southern Johnson County following a chase with at least one armed suspect.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, deputies with the Franklin County Sheriff's Office were involved in a chase when shots were fired at a deputy.

KHP said the armed suspect then ran from the scene.

As the manhunt intensified over the afternoon, I-35 in Gardner was shut down south and north bound. Bringing traffic to a halt.

Multiple schools in the area were put on lockdown during the search.

"It was a pretty scary moment getting a message that daycare was locked down, that school was on lockdown, that this was all going on so close,” Amanda Hallgrimson, a parent in Gardner said.

Law enforcement personnel from the Kansas Highway Patrol, Johnson County Sheriff's Office, Gardner Police Department, Leawood Police Department and more rushing to neighborhood, establishing a perimeter on all four sides.

Around 5:40 p.m., the Johnson County Sheriff's Office said the suspect was taken into custody and that there is no threat to the public.

What we know right now is during the course of a police chase at least one suspect fired from a car at a deputy, it is unclear if another suspect did as well, that's when one was taken into custody and the other ran.

If nothing else, Kourtney Graham, who runs a daycare that had to be lockdown, is glad this ended the way that it did, and will use this as a learning lesson.

'It's just something I have in my pocket for next time like I know exactly what to do and I'm ready for whatever I need to do to keep these kids safe," Graham said.

The suspect is not being named until formal charges have been filed.

No injuries have been reported at this time.

This is a developing story. FOX4 will continue to keep you updated as more details become available.