SEDGWICK COUNTY —The Wichita Police Department is investigating a shooting in which a two-year-old girl was struck in the foot with non-life threatening injuries while at a neighborhood playground.
Just after 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Officers responded to a call of the two-year-old being shot in the foot inside the playground in 3800 block of East Ross Park Way in the Planeview neighborhood, according to officer Paul Cruz.
The investigation has revealed that an unknown suspect inside a white Impala fired several rounds into the playground while the vehicle was driving in the wrong lane on Ross Park Way.
The 26-year-old father of the girl grabbed the child and ran to a nearby apartment complex and then took the girl to a local emergency room.
Three other youth, ranging in age from 8 to 16, were in the playground at the time of the shooting.
The parents of the girl are refusing to cooperate with investigators, which has significantly hindered the ability to identify a suspect. WPD Chief Gordon Ramsay expressed outrage at the incident and the lack of cooperation from the parents. The shooting is related to an ongoing feud between two street gangs.
Ramsay said the WPD will utilize every resource to solve the crime and address the ongoing feud including engaging the Violent Crime Taskforce. The task force is currently confiscating about three guns a week from criminals. Ramsay said the WPD also is reaching out to partnering law enforcement agencies for assistance with stronger local and federal charges as well as the agencies with the Project Safe Neighborhood’s initiative.
“This is very concerning to us,” Ramsay said. “We have added additional resources to respond to these violent crimes. We need the help of witnesses and the community. Police are only part of the solution. Our Officers will continue to work with community leaders with the See Something, Say Something initiative.”
Police have not made an arrest, according to Cruz.
Police ask that if anyone has information on the shooting, please call Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111 or WPD Detectives at 316-268-4407.