Wichita's 17th homicide: He was just walking down the street

Police are still trying to determine how two men at the center of the city's 17th homicide of the year knew each other.

Investigators have said both men are documented gang members, but it's unknown if that's related to the shooting, police said.

Lt. Todd Ojile said Thursday that 30-year-old Bretodd Williams was walking in the 1700 block of Elpyco — near Oliver and Harry — just before noon when another man walked up to him and fired several shots. Williams died in the street.

As officers were en route to the shooting, deputies with the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office saw a suspicious-looking man go into a nearby QuikTrip. They watched him go inside and then leave the convenience store wearing different clothing. Ojile said the deputies found discarded clothing in the bathroom.

Wichita police officers arrested the man near the Payless shoe store on suspicion of first-degree murder, Officer Charley Davidson said. Ojile said the man also matched a description given by witnesses.

A gun was also found in the area, Ojile said.

Just before 5 p.m., Emmanuel E. Reed, 31, was booked into jail.

This story was originally published May 3, 2018 at 11:01 AM with the headline "Wichita's 17th homicide: He was just walking down the street."