Police: Man caught trying to cross river into U.S. is suspect in Wichita hotel killing
Wichita police on Thursday identified the man who tried to cross into the U.S. from Mexico by driving a truck through the river as Patricio Gomez, who was wanted in connection with a September 2021 killing during a drug deal at an east Wichita hotel.
Gomez, who is in his early 30s, did not yet appear to be in Sedgwick County Jail as of late Thursday morning.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported Wednesday that agents arrested a man on Monday who was wanted in connection with a murder in Wichita. The CBP news release said the man would be extradited to Wichita.
Wichita police spokesperson Chad Ditch identified the man as Gomez.
The CBP reported arresting a man walking along the south side of the border near a highway. The man told agents he was a U.S. citizen and that he had just “entered the U.S. from Mexico, illegally, by attempting to drive his truck across the Rio Grande,” the CBP said in a news release. The man was taken into custody for illegal entry. Record checks showed he “had an extensive criminal record and had an active warrant out of Wichita,” the release says.
Gomez is wanted in connection with the Sept. 30, 2021, fatal shooting of 42-year-old Michael Martinez, who was found shot at a hotel in the 9400 block of East Corporate Hills and died at the scene, police said.
Police allege Gomez “fired multiple shots at Martinez, striking him” during a drug deal and then left with a woman in a black Cadillac Escalade. The Escalade was found the next day outside a hotel in Park City, police said.
“Due to the violent past of the suspect and the violent incident ... the WPD SWAT team and crisis negotiators responded to assist,” police said in October 2021. “At the hotel, two individuals were contacted. Gomez was not at the location.”
Police previously arrested Shae Roberts in connection with the killing. Court records show the 36-year-old has been charged with first-degree murder in the commission of a felony and a drug-related charge in connection with Martinez’s death.
Gomez has not been charged in the case, records show.