WICHITA, Kan.— Two 17-year-old boys are in custody in connection with the shooting death of 18-year-old Thomas Walker.
Just before 5:30p.m. Aug. 5, police responded to the intersection of West 9th Street North and North Hillside Avenue in Wichita for a traffic crash involving two shooting victims, according to a media release.
When officers arrived, they found three vehicles involved in a traffic crash. Inside a Chevrolet Impala, officers found Walker, who was a passenger, with multiple gunshot wounds. The 18-year-old driver of the Impala also had a gunshot wound.
Walker was taken to a hospital. The driver refused medical care. Walker was pronounced dead at 1:46 p.m. on Aug. 8.
Through investigation, officers learned that Walker and the 18-year-old driver were shot in the 800 block of North Poplar Avenue. The driver was attempting to take Walker to a hospital when the crash occurred.
Through additional investigative work, detectives identified two 17-year-old suspects. One suspect was taken into custody on Aug. 11, and the second suspect turned himself in on Aug. 12.
On Aug. 13, detectives presented the case to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office for review.
One 17-year-old male was charged with criminal discharge of a firearm into an occupied vehicle, aggravated battery, felony murder, aggravated robbery with a dangerous weapon and conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery.
The second 17-year-old male was charged with felony murder, aggravated robbery and conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery.
Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to call WPD detectives at 316-268-4407 or submit an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.