Victim in shooting was not intended target, police say

The victim of a parking lot shoot-out near 13th and Vesta on Saturday was not the intended target of gunfire, according to Wichita police.

Lt. Todd Ojile said Monday that the 25-year-old man and his friend had come to a strip mall at 13th Street and Vesta, between Oliver and Hillside, to buy cigarettes just before 7:30 p.m. on Saturday.

The victim was waiting in his truck, Ojile said, when two groups of people began shooting at each other, one group from the west side of the parking lot and one group from the east.

Police had not yet released the victim’s name late Monday.

“Right now, with all the evidence that we have, it is believed that the victim got caught in the crossfire,” Ojile said at the briefing.

Numerous residences, businesses and vehicles in the area of the shoot-out were struck by gunfire, Ojile said. Police did not have any suspects as of Monday, Ojile said.

Police are asking anyone who may have information about the incident to contact the police department’s homicide section at 316-268-4181 or Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.

Police at the scene of the shooting on Saturday referred to it as gang-related.

Police said the weekend shooting was the 19th homicide in 2017.

This story was originally published June 19, 2017 at 12:15 PM with the headline "Victim in shooting was not intended target, police say."