Wichita police identify victim in killing near downtown Wichita on Sunday

Police have identified the victim in Sunday’s killing near downtown as Mark Howard, 64, of Wichita.

Jessica Whitney Sanders, 22, of Wichita was arrested Sunday on suspicion of second-degree murder. Sanders attempted to steal from a convenience store Sunday then entered a home in the 800 block of South Market where Howard was later found dead, officer Charley Davidson said in a news release.

The two were acquaintances, Davidson said.

At around 12:20 p.m. Sunday, officers were called about a theft at a QuikTrip in the 700 block of South Broadway, near Kellogg. Sanders was spotted in the area.

An officer approached Sanders in his vehicle, he saw her fire a single shot into the ground from a handgun, Davidson said. Davidson said Sanders ignored instructions to stop and went into the house on South Market, about a tenth of a mile from the convenience store.

The Wichita Police Department Special Weapons and Tactics team was called in and after several hours arrested Sanders without incident.

Howard was found dead inside the home with a gunshot wound to his upper body. A handgun was also found inside the home.

Sanders “exhibited very erratic behavior” during the investigation and was possibly under the influence of drugs, Davidson said.