Feb 06, 2026

Preliminary hearing for suspect in murder of SW Kansas man

Posted Feb 06, 2026 3:00 PM
Talavera photo Sedgwick County
Talavera photo Sedgwick County

SEDGWICK COUNTY — A suspect accused in the deadly shooting of a Dodge City man is due back in court on Friday.

 Ricardo Talavera, 41, will appear in Judge Kathleen Watson's courtroom for a preliminary hearing, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

Talaverais charged with involuntary manslaughter and interference with a law enforcement office in the death of 49-year-old Ruben Parga-Quintanar.

Judge could decide today if there is enough evidence for the case to move forward and set a date for his arraignment.

Just before 9a.m. August 1, officers and Wichita Fire Department crews responded to a report of a man down near the entrance to an alley in the 2400 block of North Jeanette in Wichita, according to a media release. When fire personnel arrived, they found Parga-Quintanar with a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 8:53 a.m.

Early findings in the investigation suggested Parga-Quintanar was shot elsewhere and collapsed after fleeing on a bicycle. As the case progressed, detectives determined he was shot in the alley and then collapsed nearby.

Investigators identified Talavera as a suspect and served a search warrant at his home.  On August 6, police arrested him and booked him into the Sedgwick County Jail.  He remains jailed on a $1,000,000.00 bond, according to online jail records.