Wichita man, 18, arrested in connection to killing of AutoZone worker

Community tips led to the arrest of an 18-year-old Wichita man at his home Tuesday in connection to the shooting death of an AutoZone worker Sunday, Wichita police Capt. Jason Stephens said.

Lamontae Donae Lucas was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder in connection to the killing of 40-year-old Nicholas Blue of Wichita. He was booked into jail at around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Blue was on duty at the AutoZone at Oliver and Lincoln when Lucas walked into the store at around 9 p.m. on Sunday, pulled a handgun and shot him one time, Stephens said.

Stephens said Wednesday that police think Lucas planned on robbing the store.

The store was open for business at the time and two other employees were inside, but there were no customers. The other employees were in the backroom and were unaware that anything had happened, Stephens said.

A surveillance photo released by authorities showed the suspected gunman wearing a mask over his face, a covering on his head, pants, and a dark long-sleeved shirt with white stars and stripes.

“... This case was solved through community response to the photograph that was posted and tips that we’ve received but also through some very good and diligent police work on behalf of our detectives’ section,” Stephens said.

Wichita has had 28 criminal homicides so far this year.

Contributing: Amy Renee Leiker with The Eagle

This story was originally published July 29, 2020 at 9:10 AM.