Wednesday, January 21st:
Status Conference Hearing [for both] (@ 9am CT) - KS - Aidan Knowles (18) shot dead & Brady Clark (16) critically injured on Jan. 17, 2026 outside Jayhawk Cafe in Lawrence. *Caiden Clem (18) arrested & charged (1/20/26) with 1 count of 1st degree murder, in the commission of a felony & 2 counts of aggravated assault, use of a deadly weapon. Bond @ $1M CASH only. Douglas County
*Dai'tron Daniels-Strickland (18) arrested & charged (1/20/26) with 1 count of 2nd degree murder & 2 counts of 2nd degree attempted murder. Bond @ $1M CASH only. Douglas County
Case info: Jan. 17, 2026: Police haven’t released details on what may have led up to the shooting. Police say they arrived about 2am Saturday & found the victims outside Jayhawk Café, commonly known as “The Hawk.” “It was just surprising that it would happen in Lawrence of all places to people that were so young,” Katie Liskey, a recent KU grad, said. Not long after the shooting, officers found two suspects a few blocks away from the scene using K-9s & drones. Jail records show two people were booked in the Douglas County Jail on first-degree murder & aggravated assault. FOX4 is not naming them until formal charges are filed. But we’ve looked into their backgrounds. Police say the teens suspected of shooting and killing Aidan Knowles, 18, and critically injuring Brady Clark, 16 aren’t students or from Lawrence. But they appear to have been no stranger to authorities as juveniles. FOX4 has learned one of the teens was previously sentenced in 2024 to 18 months in juvenile custody for bringing a gun to a Kansas high school. He was also accused of assault on an officer. The other teen who was booked received 18 months probation in 2023 for stealing a gun.
Jan. 20, 2026 Update: On Tuesday, the Douglas County DA’s Office charged 18-year-old Caiden Clem of Atchison, Kansas, with one count of first-degree murder & two counts of aggravated assault using a deadly weapon. Separately, 18-year-old Dai’tron Daniels-Strickland of Shawnee, Kansas, was charged with one count of second-degree murder & two counts of second-degree attempted murder. Jail records show Clem & Daniels-Strickland are currently being held in the Douglas County Jail on a $1 million cash bond. Their first court appearance was scheduled for 3pm Tuesday.
1/20/26 Docket updates: Clem: Complaint/Information Not Seeking Arrest Warrant. Probable Cause/Arrest Report. Entry of Appearance - Defense Attorney No Doc. Case Note: R.Leal/def in jail & w/C.Cornwell. Defendant waived reading. Bond $1mil c/s, no contact w/co defendant or other witnesses. Notice - No Sheriff Service Required. Notice of Request for Disclosure. First appearance before Judge Stacey I. Donovan. Next status conference hearing on 1/21/26 @ 9am before Judge Amy J. Handley.
1/20/26 Docket updates: Strickland: Complaint/Information Not Seeking Arrest Warrant. Probable Cause/Arrest Report. Notice-No Sheriff Service Required. Notice of Request for Disclosure. Case Note. R. Leal/defendant in jail pro se. Court appointed R.Tahirkheli. Defendant waived reading. $1mil c/s & no contact w/co defendant or witnesses. First appearance on 1/20/26 at 9am. Order Appointing Counsel.Bond orders. First appearance before Judge Stacey I. Donovan. Next status conference hearing on 1/21/26 @ 9am before Judge Amy J. Handley.
