Teen allegedly shot by his mom at Wichita apartment has died. Police seek murder charge
Wichita police say a 16-year-old who was shot by his mother on Wednesday has died.
The teen has been identified as Robert Florence of Wichita. He was taken to a hospital in “extremely critical condition” after he was shot once inside of an apartment at Claremont Apartment Homes, 9100 E. Harry. His mother called 911 around 8:12 a.m. Wednesday, saying “she shot her son,” police said previously.
Police have said the mother and son live in the apartment and were the only ones there when the shooting happened. Authorities have not discussed details or a motive.
Florence died on Friday, police said in a news release.
“Tragically, this morning Mr. Florence succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the hospital. Our investigators are in the process of amending the charges on the arrested suspect to include Second Degree Murder,” Wichita police said in the release.
The mother, 46, was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of aggravated battery and aggravated assault, Sedgwick County Jail booking records show. The Eagle is not naming her at this time because she has not been formally charged. The aggravated assault allegation is tied to a previously unreported incident in March where the woman allegedly threatened an ex-husband and his girlfriend with a gun, police said Wednesday.
“The facts of this case will be presented to Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett for formal charging consideration,” police said in the news release.
The woman is currently being held in the Sedgwick County Jail. Her bonds total $600,000, jail booking records show.
Wichita police Chief Joe Sullivan, in a prepared statement included in the release, called the teen’s death “a tragic incident that has forever altered a family.”
“Gun violence impacts our entire community and cannot be tolerated,” Sullivan said in the statement.
Contributing: Eduardo Castillo of The Wichita Eagle
This story was originally published October 11, 2024 at 12:26 PM.
