SEDGWICK COUNTY, Kan. — Sedgwick County Sheriff’s deputies arrested four people, including a 17-year-old driver from Wichita, following a disturbance involving a firearm and a drive-by shooting in Wichita's Oaklawn neighborhood. The incident included to small children.
Just after 8p.m. Tuesday, sheriff's deputies first responded to a reported disturbance involving a gun in the 5100 block of South Meadowview, according to Sheriff's Department Spokesman Branden Stitt.
Witnesses reported a silver van traveling southbound on Meadowview at a high rate of speed nearly struck an adult walking with two other adults and three children. After a woman yelled at the driver to slow down, a verbal altercation began and one of the van’s occupants displayed a firearm. No shots were fired and no injuries were reported.
Deputies searched for the van and later identified a possible suspect vehicle connected to individuals involved in prior cases.
At approximately 1:08 a.m. Wednesday, deputies responded to a reported drive-by shooting in the same area. A deputy patrolling nearby reported hearing gunshots and seeing a silver van traveling southbound on Meadowview before losing sight of it. Deputies later recovered spent shell casings near a residence along Meadowview. No injuries were reported.
Deputies determined the suspected van was connected to individuals living at an apartment complex in the 4200 block of South Hydraulic. Deputies later located the van at the complex with six occupants inside, including two children ages 2 and 4. Deputies recovered a Taurus 9mm handgun, multiple magazines, marijuana, and alcoholic beverages.
The 17-year-old male driver was booked into the Sedgwick County Juvenile Intake and Assessment Center on requested charges of driving under the influence, minor in possession of alcohol, and child endangerment.
Three adults were also booked into the Sedgwick County Adult Detention Facility.
Aspen Rhnea Olvera, 23, of Wichita, the mother of the two young children found in the van, was booked on requested charges of aggravated child endangerment, furnishing alcohol to a minor, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Aiden Kenneth Kampe, 19, of Wichita, was booked on requested charges of aggravated child endangerment and criminal discharge of a firearm.
Nicholas Earl James Burress, 21, of Wichita, was booked on requested charges of aggravated child endangerment, criminal discharge of a firearm, and furnishing alcohol to a minor.
The case will now be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office for formal charging consideration.
Both children were placed into police protective custody.