Man and woman both expected to survive after domestic shooting outside Wichita school
A man and woman are expected to survive after a domestic dispute Monday morning that erupted into a shooting outside of an elementary school in south Wichita, Wichita police chief Joe Sullivan said.
The 46-year-old man is accused of shooting a 30-year-old woman multiple times outside of Cessna Elementary School, Sullivan said at a Tuesday press conference.
Sullivan did not say what the relationship between the man and woman is but said they live together and have children together. Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter said Monday that they are husband and wife.
The man’s identity was not released and he remains hospitalized in critical condition. Once released, he will be booked into the Sedgwick County Jail on suspicion of attempted murder and aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer.
The woman is also hospitalized in critical condition. It is unknown how many times she was shot. Detectives still need to interview her.
Shooting outside Cessna Elementary School
Sedgwick County Emergency Communications received reports of a shooting outside of Cessna Elementary at 9:15 a.m. A Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to the call and arrived to find the suspect armed with a handgun, Sullivan said.
The school was immediately placed on lockdown and police were quick to announce that there was no active shooter inside. Classes at Cessna start at 9 a.m.
The man allegedly ran toward the woman, laid on top of her and pointed the gun at her head, Sullivan added.
The deputy shouted at the man to drop the gun. The deputy noticed the man moved away and fired his handgun, Easter said.
The deputy fired two rounds and the man was struck, though it is unclear if both rounds hit him, Sullivan said.
The suspect allegedly did not let go of the woman. The deputy, along with two Wichita police officers, wrestled the man off and disarmed him.
Argument allegedly leads to a shooting, sheriff says
Detectives said an argument broke out between the couple while they were inside a Lyft driver’s vehicle with their children on the way to school, according to Easter.
School staff noticed the argument outside between the couple and hurried a couple of kids inside. Witnesses say the husband allegedly shot his wife while they were in the street. The wife ran toward the school for help and the husband chased her, Easter said.
Sullivan recalled a minor incident in 2016 where the man and woman got into an argument but it was not violent. Their children are in custody with the Department for Children and Families.
Findings from the investigation will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.
This story was originally published September 24, 2024 at 6:13 PM.