Police say lack of cooperation hurting investigation into weekend shootings

Police say a lack of cooperation is hindering their investigation into two shootings early Sunday morning that they think are connected.

A “large disturbance” culminated in shots fired at about 3:15 a.m. Sunday at Crestway and Lincoln, Lt. James Espinoza said. That’s just west of Oliver.

At least 50 people were present at the time of the shooting, Espinoza said, though less than a dozen said they witnessed the shooting. An 18-year-old woman was shot once in the buttocks and was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

“This is gang-related,” Espinoza said. “People there were very uncooperative with police.”

There were multiple shots fired, he said, but it’s unclear how many people fired shots.

About an hour later, a 23-year-old man walked into Via Christi Hospital St. Joseph, a few blocks west of the shooting scene, with a gunshot wound to his left hand.

He told police that he was walking in the 5500 block of East Lincoln when an unknown person drove by and fired two shots at him, Espinoza said. He denied being involved in the incident at Lincoln and Crestway, but “there are some indications he might have been,” Espinoza said.

Police said the man is a documented gang member and was uncooperative with police.

People with information about either shooting incident can call police or Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111. Tips can also be sent online at www.wichitacrimestoppers.com or from a mobile phone by texting TIP217, then the message, to CRIMES (274637).

“What does not get taken care of immediately will linger on,” Espinoza said. “We don’t want that.”

This story was originally published July 6, 2015 at 3:19 PM with the headline "Police say lack of cooperation hurting investigation into weekend shootings."