Wichita cops in late-night gunfight shoot suspect from earlier Kansas police shooting

A late-night police chase in Wichita ended with a gun battle where officers shot a suspect wanted for a prior pursuit and shooting.

“So thankful our officers were not hurt after being shot at by a very dangerous man last night,” Police Chief Gordon Ramsay said in a Facebook post. “This highlights the dangers our officers face and am thankful for them and the important work they do.”

Police described the suspect as “a violent felon.” The 38-year-old Wichita man has not been identified, though he is expected to survive.

Sgt. Daniel Harty of the WPD homicide section said an officer spotted a Chevy Tahoe at around 10:33 p.m. Tuesday while patrolling his beat. Police had been advised to be on the lookout for the vehicle after it had been involved in a previous chase with Mulvane police. During that Saturday incident, the driver fired four shots at officers.

A second chase happened Sunday night, though the vehicle escaped from Sedgwick County Sheriff’s officers.

The WPD officer attempted a traffic stop Tuesday night in the 4200 block of East Boston, resulting in a third chase that lasted about 7 minutes. Speeds during the chase reached 60-70 mph in a residential neighborhood.

When the vehicle became disabled next to a home in the 4400 block of East Bayley, the driver got out and fired a shot from a handgun at police, Harty said.

The bullet missed the officers and struck a home behind them.

About five officers were on scene and returned fire. The suspect was hit four or five times, including in the left leg, left hand, a shoulder and the right arm.

“Officers moved in at that point and gave lifesaving measures, including the use of a tourniquet to stop bleeding on his leg,” Harty said.

Police providing immediate medical care to suspects injured from any use of force was one of several policy changes discussed in June. The Wichita Police Foundation provided the tourniquet that was used, Officer Charley Davidson said.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is assisting with the investigation into the officer-involved shooting, Davidson said.

The suspect remains hospitalized in stable condition, Harty said. He will be booked into the Sedgwick County Jail after being released.

The handgun used to shoot at police had been reported stolen in a September residential burglary in Sedgwick County, Harty said. The suspect is on parole. He was previously arrested in 2012 on gun and drug charges after a police chase and shooting.

This story was originally published October 28, 2020 at 1:21 AM.