Wichita police on Wednesday announced the arrest of a third person in the fatal shooting of a man in a Knights of Columbus Hall parking lot on Dec. 13.
Police Lt. James Espinoza said the 19-year-old man – identified in police and jail documents as Joel Vitela-Rodriguez – was arrested at 1:16 p.m. Tuesday in the 3000 block of North Park Place and later jailed on suspicion of second-degree murder of Super Street Khatiya, 24.
Espinoza said Vitela-Rodriguez was one of several individuals inside of a car where gunfire originated the night Khatiya and a 21-year-old man were shot outside of the Knights of Columbus Hall in the 3000 block of West 13th Street.
Police have said people left a company Christmas party held at the hall when a car pulled up to take someone home and words were exchanged at 11 p.m. Khatiya suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the stomach during the altercation. He later died.
The 21-year-old survived a gunshot wound to his chest.
Police last month arrested 20-year-old Manuel Otano-Hernandez on suspicion of murder and a 20-year-old woman on suspicion of aiding and abetting in connection with Khatiya’s death. To date, neither has been criminally charged.
Ismael Pena, 20, is being sought on warrants for second-degree murder and aggravated battery, Espinoza said.
Reach Amy Renee Leiker at 316-268-6644 or aleiker@wichitaeagle.com. Follow her on Twitter: @amyreneeleiker.
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