SEDGWICK COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting at a Wichita night club and have a second suspect in custody.
Just before 2a.m. Monday, police responded to report of a shooting at Club Vixen in the 200 Block of West Harry in Wichita, according to Lt. Todd Ojile.
Sandoval -photo Sedgwick Co.
There was an argument in the parking lot of the club and a group of three or four men confronted the victim identified as 24-year-old Austen Wright and another person. One person in the group pulled a gun and shot Wright. He was transported to a local hospital where he died.
At approximately 3 p.m. Wednesday, police arrested 26-year-old Mario D. Sandoval, of Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson. He booked into jail on one count of felony murder.
Quezada -photo KDOC
At approximately 11 a.m. Monday, 25-year-old Hernan Quezada, of Wichita, was arrested and booked into jail on one count of felony murder and possession of a firearm by a felon.
The case has been presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office, according to Davidson.
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A 70-year-old man has been charged with molesting five children at a day care in Johnson County.
Amlin -photo Johnson Co.
Lennie Amlin Jr., of Spring Hill, is facing five felony counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child.
The criminal complaint says the alleged victims ranged in age from about 5 to 11.
The charges allege that between March 2017 and January 2018, Amlin engaged in lewd fondling or touching of five different children.
A family member of Amlin’s owns the licensed day care in Spring Hill. The business’ license was suspended in March after the allegations against Amlin were raised.
Amlin is scheduled to make an initial court appearance Friday.
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.
ANDOVER, Kan. (AP) — An employee at an Andover country club has died days after a brick pillar fell on him.
First responders at the the scene of the fatal accident-photo courtesy KAKE
Andover police say 27-year-old Jeff Williams died Wednesday from injuries he suffered on Sunday at the Terradyne Country Club. Williams was an assistant superintendent at the golf course.
KAKE-TV reports Williams and another worker were in a hole repairing a water line when thepillar fell on him.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the accident.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas police say one of four carnival workers accused of dumping the bodies of a slain Kansas couple had ordered the killings while posing as a carnival mafia member.
Carnival workers Kimberly Younger, Michael Fowler, Rusty Frasier and Christine Tenney were charged this week in Crawford County Circuit Court. The charges include abuse of a corpse in the deaths of Alfred and Pauline Carpenter of Wichita.
Van Buren police say Younger posed as a carnival mafia member named “Frank Zaitchik” and texted others last month to kill the Carpenters on the Barton County fairgrounds in Great Bend where the couple were vendors.
Michael Fowler – photo Crawford Co.Rusty Frazier -photo Crawford County
Police say Fowler told investigators that the killings were initiation into the carnival mafia.
Younger, Fowler and Frasier are being held on $1 million bond. Tenney is being held on $250,000 bond. All have pleaded not guilty.
FINNEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an aggravated robbery that sent a victim to the hospital.
Just after 11:50p.m. Wednesday, August 15, 2018, at 11:54 PM, police were dispatched to report of an aggravated robbery in the area of 4101 East Highway 50 in Garden City, according to a media release.
The investigation revealed the 39-year-old victim was outside of his residence when two unknown individuals approached him and began demanding drugs and money.
One of the suspects was allegedly armed with a knife. The two male suspects then began to physically assault the victim and took his property. The victim suffered injuries and was transported to St. Catherine Hospital where he was treated and released.
Officers searched the area and were unable to locate the suspects.
The suspect who was allegedly yielding the knife is described as a black male, 5-foot-10, slender build, long black hair which was worn in a ponytail, wearing a white t-shirt and dark colored pants. The second suspect is described as a black male, 5-foot-8, average build, wearing a white t-shirt, white hat and dark colored shorts, according to the release.
Anyone who witnessed this incident, or have information related to this incident is asked to call the Garden City Police Department
GEARY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a murder and have 3 suspects in custody including an active duty soldier, according to Junction City Police Captain Trish Giordano
Location of the fatal shooting and burglary in Junction City Google image
On August 9, police responded to report of a shooting in the parking lot of 713 West 11th Street in Junction City, according to Police Captain Trish Giordano.
They found 21-year-old Darian White, 21, Junction City, shot to death in a vehicle, according to Giordano.
Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning officers of the JCPD located and arrested Jacqueline Charda Sampson, 24, an active duty soldier at Fort Riley, Cameron Michael Fontenot, 18, Junction City, and a 17-year juvenile from Junction City were arrested on suspicion of First Degree Murder and Burglary.
Sampson and Fontenot are being without bond pending a first court appearance. The juvenile is being held at the North Central Kansas Regional Juvenile Detention Center.
Giordano confirmed police followed up on numerous leads in the case, “and put some stuff together, and developed probable cause to pick up a few people, and ended up with three suspects.”
Anyone with information on the case is asked to call the JCPD Investigation Division at 762-5912.
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GEARY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a murder and have three suspects in custody.
On August 9, police responded to report of a shooting in the parking lot of 713 West 11th Street in Junction City, according to Police Captain Trish Giordano.
They found 21-year-old Darian White, 21, Junction City, shot to death in a vehicle, according to a media release.
Giordano reported that late Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning officers of the JCPD located and arrested Jacqueline Charda Sampson, 24, Fort Riley, Cameron Michael Fontenot, 18, Junction City and a 17-year old juvenile from Junction City on suspicion of First Degree Murder and Burglary.
Sampson and Fontenot are being without bond pending a first court appearance. The juvenile is being held at the North Central Kansas Regional Juvenile Detention Center.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to call the JCPD Investigation Divisiion at 762-5912.
FREDERICK, Colo. (AP) — The body was found of a pregnant Colorado woman whose husband was arrested in the disappearance of her and her two young daughters, and investigators were trying to recover what they believe are the remains of the girls, authorities said Thursday.
An Endangered Missing Alert has been issued for Shannan Watts (age 34), and her two daughters, Celeste and Bella Watts (ages 3&4). Shannan is also 15 weeks pregnant. Last seen in the Frederick area. Please RT pic.twitter.com/U6N8BqB4sE
Chris Watts, 33, was taken into custody Wednesday in the town of Frederick, about 28 miles (45 kilometers) north of Denver. His 34-year-old wife, Shanann Watts, and their two daughters, 4-year-old Bella and 3-year-old Celeste, were reported missing Monday by a family friend.
Watts photo Weld County Sheriff
“As horrible as this outcome is, our role now is to do everything we can to determine exactly what occurred,” said John Camper, director of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
Chris Watts was being held in jail and will appear in court Thursday. He has not yet been charged, and it wasn’t known if he had a lawyer who could speak on his behalf.
Chris Watts spoke previously with Denver TV outlets about missing his family and his hopes for their safe return. He said his wife returned home about 2 a.m. Monday after a flight for a work trip was delayed.
He said the two had an “emotional conversation” before he left for work a few hours later and that he became concerned after she did not return his calls or texts or that of her friends. He said he came home to an empty house after a friend knocked on the door at noon and got no answer.
He told KMGH-TV about how traumatic it was to spend the night in the family’s unusually quiet home and missing telling his daughters to eat their dinner and turning on their bedroom monitors.
“Last night I had every light in the house on. I was hoping that I would just get ran over by the kids running in the door, just barrel-rushing me, but it didn’t happen,” he said.
Shanann Watts’ Facebook account paints a portrait of a happy family, with a constant feed of photos and videos of her family, friends and herself. Her comments are typically upbeat and say how happy she is, whether she’s running errands, playing with her kids or promoting a health program.
She posted selfies of her and her husband smiling in restaurants, in front of the ocean on vacation and at their house. On one from May 5, she wrote: “I love this man! He’s my ROCK!”
She posted a photo on June 19 of some texts with her husband after sending him a sonogram. He replied that he loved the baby already. She posted: “I love Chris! He’s the best dad us girls could ask for.”
Her page has photo collages and video slide shows praising Chris Watts for taking care of her and their girls, how their love was growing stronger and how he was why she was brave enough to agree to a third child.
The couple filed for bankruptcy protection in 2015. They estimated they had the same range of assets as liabilities, according to court records.
Shanann Watts was from North Carolina, and her parents’ next-door neighbor, Joe Beach, said he had just seen her when she visited the neighborhood of modest homes in Aberdeen.
“She was here for about three weeks. I talked her a couple times,” he said in a phone interview. “We were talking about general things, about how her two girls were doing and how life was out in Colorado. She didn’t give me an indication that there was anything wrong. She seemed pretty happy.”
He said he knew her parents well and had known Shanann since she was a teenager. Beach said she was a nice person with two lovely children, both of whom he had seen on their recent visit.
“They were sweet kids. The oldest child was quite talkative for her age,” he said.
He said he hasn’t spoken to her parents since the tragedy, but a neighbor told him they flew to Colorado.
“I’m surprised that it happened,” he said. “I wouldn’t expect for anything like that to happen. She was good people.”
Shanann’s father, Frank Rzucek, said on Facebook that the family didn’t want to talk to the media.
She moved to Colorado from North Carolina with her husband in 2012, according to property records and her social media accounts. She had been in a hurry to sell a house in Belmont, west of Charlotte, and left behind the furniture as part of the sale, said the man who bought it, Byron Falls.
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FREDERICK, Colo. (AP) — Authorities say the husband of a missing family in Colorado has been arrested in connection with the case.
The Frederick Police Department said Chris Watts was taken into custody. Watt’s pregnant wife, 34-year-old Shanann Watts, and their two daughters, 4-year-old Bella and 3-year-old Celeste were reported missing Monday.
Watts photo Weld County Sheriff
The police said on Twitter early Thursday that Chris Watts will be held at the Weld County Jail. He has not yet been charged. It wasn’t immediately known if he had a lawyer.
Chris Watts spoke previously with The Denver Channel and pleaded for his family’s safe return.
#ShanannWattsInvestigation Update 1 of 3: In the evening hours of 8/15, The Frederick Police Department, with FBI and Colorado Bureau of Investigation, has made an arrest in connection to the missing persons case involving Shanann Watts and her two daughters, Bella and Celeste.
By Senator Laura Kelly Candidate for Kansas governor
As parents turn their attention to the start of the school year, let’s remember how important our public schools are to Kansas. We must commit to making them a priority once again – so our children can thrive.
This issue isn’t new to me. Fighting for kids has been my lifelong mission. Right out of high school, I went to work at a camp that served disadvantaged adolescents. When I became a recreation therapist, I worked with children battling severe mental illness. And, I actually first ran for office because my state senator voted to slash funding for our schools. I won that race because Kansans agreed with my top priority – investing in our children.
During my time in the state Senate, I’ve worked to make sure all Kansas children have the support they need to succeed. That means access to good public schools, but it also means strong early childhood programs, an accountable child welfare system to protect kids, and affordable, safe child care. It’s really not rocket science: put kids on the right path at an early age – and keep them there. It’s how they succeed, it’s how their family succeeds, and it’s how Kansas succeeds.
For years, Sam Brownback pushed his irresponsible tax experiment on Kansas, decimating our state’s budget. Brownback – and his supporters in the legislature – focused on doing the minimum for our students and teachers. As a result, teachers fled the state, schools went to shorter weeks, class sizes grew, and our children were denied the top-notch education they deserve.
Fortunately, the election of 2016 brought a wave of new faces to the legislature and a shift in priorities. Kansas was able to make much needed changes. However, we still have leadership in the legislature and the governor’s office that does not support our schools. We must elect more leaders who will put the focus back on our students, teachers, and schools.
As you take your child back to school, know that I will make your children and their school a top priority. I have a vision of education that spans from early childhood to K-12 to college to the workforce. Because every step along the way is important: a chance for our state to do right by our kids and their parents – or to let them down. And sadly, for the past seven years, Sam Brownback and Kris Kobach have let them down.
Instead of focusing on doing the minimum, we will plan and innovate. We will expand pre-K programs, fully fund our K-12 schools, and add a cost of living index to keep us out of court. We will also invest more in career and technical programs and create new public-private partnerships that connect businesses with skilled young people.
If we come together, we will make sure Kansas has the best schools in the nation so our children can be ready for the jobs of the future. Our economy is changing, and Kansas must continue to modernize our public schools to compete. It’s time we work together to put our kids first.
Verna Lang, age 85, of Hays, KS, died on Wednesday, August 15, 2018 at St. Catherine Hospital in Garden City, KS.
Funeral services will be at 10:00 A.M., on Saturday, August 18, 2018 at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 1805 Vine St., Hays. KS. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M. on Friday, August 17 and from 9:00-9:45 A.M. on Saturday, August 18, both at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd St., Hays, KS 67601.
A Daughters of Isabella rosary will be at 7:00 P.M., followed by a parish vigil service on Friday both at the funeral home.
Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or by email at [email protected].
Loyd “Bob” James Keenan passed away on Monday, August 13, 2018 at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Nebraska at the age of 84. He was born on September 2, 1933 in Jennings, Kansas to Edger James and Ellen “Ruth” (Harris) Keenan. He attended the Jennings School and graduated from Jennings High School with the Class of 1951. After graduation, he enlisted and served in the United States Air Force. In the Air Force, he worked as an airplane mechanic. He never lost his love and fascination with airplanes. After serving his country, he returned home to Jennings, and Miss Lila Adams caught his attention. Loyd “Bob” and Lila were united in marriage in Jennings, Kansas on May 15, 1959. They were blessed with four children, Ricky James, Debbie, Kathy, and Tammy.
After Loyd and Lila were married, they lived in Oberlin. He worked for Bob Boultinghouse Construction, where among other things; he learned to operate heavy equipment. They moved to Jennings where he started his own Heavy Equipment business. In 1971, Loyd went to work as the Supervisor of the Decatur County Road and Bridge Department.
Loyd was a very hard worker, but he also enjoyed his life. Among some of his favorite things to do was yard work, and he was an animal lover. His passion for airplanes continued throughout his life. If a plane flew over, he was outside identifying it and could tell you everything about it. Tinkering with cars and motorcycles was another of his hobbies. He and Lila spent many hours riding the motorcycle. He was a prankster and would sneak up on someone and scare them half to death. You always had to be on your guard when Loyd was around because you never knew what prank he might pull on you.
Loyd is survived by his wife, Lila of Oberlin, Kansas; son, Ricky James Keenan and wife Pamela of Norton, Kansas; daughters, Debbie Ayers and husband Richard of Dodge City, Kansas, Kathy Harms and husband Roy of Scott City, Kansas and Tammy Touslee and husband Rick of Oberlin, Kansas; fourteen grandchildren; thirty-three great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Imogene Keenan; and other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Edger James and Ellen “Ruth” Keenan; brothers, Neil Keenan and Boyd Keenan; sisters, Dorothy Davis and Edna Smith; grandson, Dustin; and great-grandchildren, Natalee and Jagar.
Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Friday, August 17, 2018 at Pauls Funeral Home in Oberlin, Kansas. Burial will follow in the Clayton Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9:00 A.M. – 8:00 P.M. on Thursday, August 16, 2018 at Pauls Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to the Loyd J. Keenan Memorial Fund and may be sent in care of Pauls Funeral Home, 121 N. Penn Avenue, Oberlin, Kansas 67749. Online condolences may be left at www.paulsfh.com
Loyd liked the homey, simple things of life. He had work-worn hands and a heart of gold. He loved his family and held them in his heart. He will be missed, but the memory of him will always be with his family and friends.
ULYSSES — Longtime Thomas More Prep-Marian athletic director and coach Gene Flax has joined the staff of Ulysses USD 214 as interim athletic director.
Flax will fill the position left vacant after the unexpected death of athletic director Jason Kenny, who died in July at age 47.
“Gene had reached out just offering his condolences,” said Ulysses Superintendent David Younger. “Him and Jason had worked together in their capacities, and he knew our high school principal.”
Flax offered his assistance and, after an effort to replace Kenney internally did not work out, the district reached out.
Younger said Flax interviewed Saturday, was appointed by the USD 214 Board of Education on Wednesday and arrived Wednesday night to “hit the ground running.”
Flax, who most recently served as AD at Russell, will serve as interim AD for one year, Younger said, with the search for a permanent replacement ongoing.
“Of course, Gene is well thought of throughout the state of Kansas in his role at TMP, a sterling reputation,” Younger said. “He was happy to help us out for the year.”
Flax joined the staff at TMP-Marian in 1996. In addition to being the school’s athletic director, he was the head football coach for 14 years guiding the Monarchs to the state playoffs twice. He also served an an assistant coach for the Kansas Shrine Bowl. Flax was also spent time as the Monarchs head track and field coach as well as an assistant. He also taught P.E., weightlifting as well as drivers’ education.
