Wichita murder suspect allegedly shot woman in the head with a shotgun, police say

A Wichita murder suspect allegedly shot a woman in the head with a sawed-off shotgun, police said.

Isaac Julius Pankratz was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder and gun crimes in connection to the shooting death of Sarah Phillips on Sunday.

Officers responded at around 9:40 a.m. on Sunday to an unknown call for police at a home in the 4900 block of East Murdock, police spokesman Officer Charley Davidson said in a news release Tuesday. They found Phillips, who was unresponsive and had trauma to her head. The 36-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators found Pankratz, 27, later that day at an apartment in the 2500 block of West Wildwood. He had a sawed-off shotgun and was arrested on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm and possessing a sawed-off shotgun.

Investigators determined that Pankratz was at the home on Murdock with Phillips when the criminal homicide happened. Pankratz allegedly fired a shot from a shotgun — hitting and killing Phillips — before fleeing the scene, Davidson said.

A murder booking charge has been added as Pankratz remains held in the Sedgwick County Jail.

Police said the shooting was not a random incident and the suspect and victim knew each other. Davidson told The Eagle that they were acquaintances.

Pankratz was released on parole last month after spending time in state prison, Kansas Department of Corrections records show. He has prior felony convictions of aggravated assault, theft, burglary and attempted robbery. He was listed as being under high supervision in Sedgwick County.

This story was originally published May 12, 2020 at 12:39 PM.