Print edition: 
WICHITA — Authorities have arrested or charged seven members of two Asian gangs they say were involved in violence outside an Old Town nightclub or a shooting death outside a North Broadway restaurant, a police official said today.
Police think some of those arrested also were possibly connected to two shooting deaths at a funeral wake outside a south Wichita home on Jan. 24, 2009. The shooting, in the 2900 block of East Dunham, killed Keo Intavong, 66, and Jeff Chitanavong, 22, said police Lt. Ken Landwehr.
Some of those arrested also could be connected to the fatal shooting of Danny Dang in 2006 at the Mid-America All-Indian Center, said Landwehr, head of the homicide unit.
One of the seven arrested has been charged with murder in the fatal shooting of Eric Pou on Dec. 27 outside Da Nang Restaurant, 1556 N. Broadway, Landwehr said. A 25-year-old man was wounded in the shooting.
At least five of the seven have been charged with aggravated battery in a stabbing and beating where shots were fired on Dec. 19 outside Club Indigo, off East Douglas in Old Town, officials said.
Five of the men were put in jail and faced initial court appearances today. Two of those arrested had previously been taken into custody.
The seven — ages 19 to 27 — are members of two Asian gangs that have been associated in the past but have become at odds with each other since the Da Nang shooting, Landwehr said.
Landwehr said members of the public provided vital information that helped authorities make the five arrests Wednesday.
He said he hoped that the courage of those who helped investigators would inspire others to provide information that could help solve other crimes. He asked that people with information about the crimes call Crime Stoppers, 316-267-2111, or homicide detectives, 316-268-4181.
Landwehr praised the work of investigators who interviewed witnesses and reviewed surveillance video.
The ongoing investigation of the crimes continues, he said.
