Topeka has seen 3 separate homicides in 2 days; victims include Keith K. Gaylord Jr., 23

Topeka police on Friday were investigating two homicides reported that day in Topeka, which they said appeared unrelated. No arrests had been made in either case.

Police were called shortly after 10 a.m. to a report of a shooting at the Meadowlark Apartments, 1621 S.W. 37th Terrace, where they found one deceased homicide victim and one person with injuries that weren't thought to be life-threatening, said Gretchen Spiker, communications director for Topeka's city government.

Spiker identified the person who died as Keith K. Gaylord Jr., 23, of Topeka.

Gaylord was a 2018 graduate of Topeka High School, according to CJOnline archives.

The other person was taken by American Medical Response ambulance to a Topeka hospital, Spiker said.

That person's name, age and gender weren't being made public.

Bruce Holloway Jr., 20, of Lawrence, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections in connection with a first-degree murder charge in that case, said Topeka police Capt. Jerry Monasmith.

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Police also declared as a homicide the death of a man whose body was found earlier Thursday beneath Interstate 70's Polk-Quincy Viaduct, near the intersection of S.E. 2nd and Quincy, said police Lt. Manuel Munoz.

Information wasn't being made public about the victim's cause and manner of death.

Officers went to that location after an individual walked about 8 a.m. Thursday into the nearby Law Enforcement Center at 320 S. Kansas Ave. and reported finding items beneath that viaduct, Munoz said.

The victim's name and age weren't being made public.

Police asked anyone with information about either crime to email telltpd@topeka.org or call the Topeka police criminal investigation bureau at 785-368-9400.

Anonymous tips may be made online at www.p3tips.com/128 or by calling Shawnee County Crime Stoppers at 785-234-0007.

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Friday's deaths brought to three the number of homicides recorded in Topeka over a two-day period.

Gregory Dean Butts, 55, died after being one of two people shot Thursday morning in the 3500 block of S.W. Kerry Avenue.

A man suspected of killing Butts was taken to a Topeka hospital after a car chase and shootout with Topeka police later that morning, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation said.

That man — Eric D. Perkins, 33, of Excelsior Springs, Mo. — was listed in serious condition at a Topeka hospital, said Melissa Underwood, communications director for the KBI.

Tim Hrenchir can be reached at (785) 213-5934 or threnchir@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Topeka police investigate 2 separate homicides day after shootout