Former Kansas Attorney General Morrison to Represent Suspect in Olathe East School Shooting

The suspect in the Olathe East school shooting remains in critical condition and was not able to attend his first hearing Monday on a charge of attempted capital murder. Paul Morrison, now in private practice in Olathe, has been appointed to represent him.

A Johnson County judge on Monday appointed former Kansas Attorney General and Johnson County District Attorney Paul Morrison to represent Jaylon Elmore, the Olathe East High student who allegedly shot two people inside the school on Friday.

Jaylon Elmore

Elmore, 18, faces a charge of attempted capital murder and remains in critical condition at Overland Park Regional Hospital.

A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for March 17. Elmore’s bond has been set at $1 million.

Elmore pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery in Wyandotte County in 2020 for stealing a wallet and was sentenced to probation. He was a juvenile at the time. He completed his probation last July.

He allegedly shot school resource officer Erik Clark and assistant principal Kaleb Stoppel shortly after 10:30 a.m. Friday. They were transported to the hospital and released late that day.

School administrators received a tip that Elmore had brought a gun to school in his backpack. After he was brought to the main office, he allegedly displayed a handgun. Gunfire was exchanged with Clark, who shot Elmore, according to Olathe police. Clark was not initially in the office but was summoned afterward by Stoppel, according to district spokesperson Becky Grubaugh.

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