SALINA COUNTY, Kan. — Three Kansas men have been arrested in Salina County, Kansas in connection with the July shooting of a Carbondale police officer and for allegedly plotting contract murder in Jackson County, Illinois.

Kansas Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Doug Younger says that multiple officers from multiple agencies worked together late Sunday night and early Monday morning to make the arrests at locations throughout Salina.

Those arrested include 22-year-old Alex Karcher, 22-year-old Xavier McCray, and 24-year-old Xavier Lewis, all of Kansas. Each man was booked into the Saline County Jail on a million dollar bond.

Authorities say three men facing conspiracy to commit capital murder charges are accused of contracting to travel to Illinois to kill three men, and between July 27 and August 1, traveling to Jackson County, Illinois to commit the crime.

The Salina Journal reports Xavier McCray was out of jail awaiting court proceedings on unrelated drug and firearms charges at the time.

Investigators believe the shooting involving Carbondale Police officer Trey Harris stemmed from a larger criminal operation.

Officer Trey Harris (Carbondale PD)
Officer Trey Harris
(Carbondale PD)

Officer Trey Harris was investigating reports of shots fired on the Carbondale’s northeastern side on Sunday, July 31 when a car chase began with at least two suspects in a tan Pontiac Grand Prix.

During the chase, Harris was shot through his cruiser’s windshield and was later airlifted to a St. Louis hospital.

Harris has been released from the hospital and is recovering with family, but the investigation has continued in force.

The Kansas investigation culminated in a sealed indictment in Saline County, Kansas that is associated with the July 31, 2016 incident that resulted Harris being shot and injured.

Since this is an ongoing investigation the Carbondale Police Department cannot comment any further on the investigation.

The City of Carbondale is offering a $15,000 and Crimestoppers is offering $1,000 for information which leads to the identity, arrest and conviction of the suspect(s) in this incident.