‘Right thing to do’: Wichita police award eight citizens for response during stabbing

Isaac Stegman was in west Wichita driving home from work when he saw something he had never seen before: an accident in which one driver was out of his vehicle and stabbing the driver inside the other vehicle.

Both people involved were men. The victim had a woman and two children in his vehicle.

Stegman, who owns a carpentry business, turned his truck and trailer around, parked in the road and got out to help. By the time he arrived, the victim was on the ground, the suspect held at gunpoint by another bystander.

He quickly used his shirt and belt to make tourniquets on the 30-year-old man’s leg and arm. The man had been stabbed elsewhere as well.

“He was down bad,” Stegman said, adding: ”I just hope someone would have done the same for me if I was in that situation. It was the right thing to do, I guess.”

Others felt the same.

As Stegman had been turning his truck around, another witness had driven her vehicle at the suspect, stopping the attack. Another person then held the suspect at gunpoint while two others subdued him, police said.

Others provided first aid until first responders arrived.

For their response in the Sept. 28, 2022, domestic-related attack, Stegman and seven others were given the Outstanding Citizens Award, Wichita police said Friday.

“I was on the scene during that call and saw what they did,” Lt. Jason Waite said in a news release. “They are amazing people. They all made similar statements regarding why and how they decided to act. They all shared the common thought; they were just doing what anybody would have done for them. Wichita is a better city because people like this are in it.”

Those awarded are:

Stephanie Doss

Shametra Jackson

Carletha Johnson

Tyler Lopez

Daphine Sanchez

Isaac Stegman

Rhonda Sutton

Juwan Wilson

Other awardees did not respond to calls or questions from The Eagle.

The incident happened around 6:15 p.m. on Sept. 28 at West Street and Murdock.

A man who was upset with his ex-partner intentionally rammed into a Chevy Cruz with a Hyundai Elantra, police said.

The Cruz carried the 30-year-old man driving, a 28-year-old woman and two children, ages 4 and 5.

The suspect tried breaking out the windows on the Cruz with nunchucks before stabbing the victim, police said. The woman had minor injuries likely from broken glass, police said.

Julian Luis Gonzalez was charged with attempted first-degree premeditated murder, two counts of aggravated battery, four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, two counts of aggravated endangering a child and one count of criminal possession of a weapon by a felon. The court case is ongoing.

This story was originally published August 4, 2023 at 3:57 PM.