Man left gun with children, went to store before fatal shooting, Wichita police say

A 21-year-old Wichita man was arrested in connection to the fatal shooting of a teen after the man left his loaded gun around two children and one picked up the gun and fired, police said Wednesday.

“A 9-year-old child cannot be held culpable for criminal offense,” Wichita Capt. Jason Stephens said.

Christian Enrique Concha was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of first-degree murder and aggravated child endangerment as well as a domestic violence case from August, records show. The shooting was reported at 3:58 p.m. Tuesday in the 700 block of South Sycamore, near Kellogg.

Stephens said Concha allowed two children, ages 10 and 9, to handle the firearm and then left it “unattended and loaded while he intended to leave to go to I believe QuikTrip.” After Concha left, the 9-year-old picked up the firearm and accidentally shot 18-year-old Jeremy Retana of Wichita in the head, Stephens said.

Retana died at the scene, police said.

The children were being babysat by a woman at the home, Stephens said. The woman went with Concha and left the children with the victim when he was shot, Stephens said.

Editor’s note: An earlier version of the story, using police records, incorrectly identified the victim as being 17 years old. Jeremy Retana is 18, according to police.

This story was originally published September 9, 2020 at 9:34 AM.