KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — The mother of a Kansas City, Kansas, detective who was shot and killed says her son was “the rock of the family.”

A man suspected in the shooting of the detective was shot and arrested after a police pursuit and shootout Monday.

Carolynn Lancaster talked to the Kansas City Star about her son, 39-year-old Brad Lancaster, on Monday.

Lancaster says: “We are a small family but we are strong. He was the rock of the family.”

The newspaper reports Lancaster was a U.S. Air Force veteran who had served two tours of duty overseas, including one in Kuwait.

Police said the detective was shot at least twice about 12:30 p.m. Monday while helping respond to a report of a suspicious person near the Kansas Speedway. He died at a hospital.

A man who’d been sought for questioning in that incident was later wounded and arrested after a shootout with police in neighboring Missouri. Police say the shooter fled in the detective’s car, then carjacked a vehicle with two children inside before abandoning that vehicle, leaving the kids unharmed.

Police sought 28-year-old Curtis Ayers for questioning in the shooting of Det. Lancaster. He ultimately was taken into custody in Kansas City, Missouri, when he crashed his car after exchanging gunfire with officers near U.S. Highway 71 and Bannister Road. He reportedly tried to steal yet another car at that location and allegedly shot the female driver in the arm.

The suspect was shot at least once by police but was expected to survive.