SEDGWICK COUNTY —A teen murder suspect, captured on June 17, after hiding from police for weeks was back in court this week.
During an arraignment hearing in the courtroom of Judge Tyler Roush, 19-year-old Jaden Watts pleaded guilty in the shooting death of 24-year-old Demarc Burgess, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.
In August, Judge Roush rejected a motion from Watt's attorney to dismiss the case because the fatal shooting was in self defense, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.
In March, police issued a felony pick-up for Watts in connection with the shooting of Burgess at a residence in the 14000 block of E. Twinlake Drive in Wichita, according to Officer Juan Reboledo. EMS transported Burgess to a local hospital where he died.
Preliminary investigations indicated that the incident occurred during a gathering at the residence, where a disturbance broke out between Watts and Burgess, which ultimately led to the shooting. On June 17, Wichita police and U.S. Marshals took Watts into custody in the area of 700 S Hunter in Wichita, according to a statement from Wichita Police. He was charged with second-degree murder.
Watts is scheduled to be sentenced in March.
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