Three federal agents were shot and a Kansas motel was set on fire late Saturday night while authorities were trying to arrest a man wanted in connection with robbery and other crimes.
The FBI told the Topeka Capital-Journal that the officers, who were not identified, approached the Country Club Motel in Topeka about 10 p.m. in hopes to capture a person of interest, Orlando Collins, 28. He was being sought on suspicion of a holdup and carjacking Friday, along with an attempted robbery and an armed holdup on April 6, authorities said.
Two U.S. Marshal Service deputies and one FBI agent sustained non-life threatening gunshot wounds when they approached the hotel, U.S. Marshal Ron Miller told the Capital-Journal. Authorities could not confirm if Collins was the person engaging the officers.
After the fire was extinguished an unidentified body was found inside the room authorities thought Collins was in,
noted WIBW-TV.
The body was transported to the Shawnee County Medical Examiner's Office, but authorities did not have any additional information Sunday,
according to KMBC-TV.
Witnesses told WIBW-TV that at least 50 shots were fired during the gun battle. The fire spread throughout the building after it was started in the suspect's room.
An investigation of the shootout has been opened by the FBI, ATF, and Fire Marshal's office with assistance from the Topeka Police Department, Kansas Highway Patrol, and the Shawnee County Sheriff's Office.
Federal authorities issued an arrest warrant for Collins April 20, at which time he was placed on the Kansas Most Wanted list.
Authorities were canvassing the Topeka's Hi-Crest neighborhood, near the hotel, looking for Collins before the shooting. A man who lived in the area told the Capital-Journal that authorities were asking about a second person along with Collins.
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