Man accused in Father’s Day barbecue killing in Wichita is arrested in Mexico, police say

A man charged in a Father’s Day barbecue killing in north Wichita, who cut his ankle monitor and fled after being charged with premeditated first-degree murder, was arrested in Mexico by U.S. Marshals, Wichita police spokesperson Kris Gupilan said Wednesday night.

Eric Gonzalez-Gutierrez, 33, of Wichita has been wanted by police since June 21, when he cut his ankle monitor, which was part of the conditions of his $1 million bond in the killing of 28-year-old Aron Lara of Wichita. He is also charged with criminal possession of a firearm by a felon.

“Details surrounding the circumstances of his arrest are currently limited,” Gupilan said in a news release just after 8:30 p.m. “We are working closely with the U.S. Marshals Service to facilitate his extradition back to Wichita, Kansas.”

During the June 16 barbecue, Lara and Gonzalez-Gutierrez had an argument. The suspect went home, got a rifle, returned and shot Lara, who was unarmed, police previously said.

Two men accompanying Lara returned fire, resulting in a 22-year-old man being shot in the arm, police said.

Officers recovered the weapon from a nearby residence and collected 26 shell casings of multiple calibers from homes and vehicles near the shooting.

The shooting happened at 8:35 p.m. in the 1900 block of N. Jackson Street.

Gonzalez-Gutierrez was arrested June 17 at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis, records show. He posted the $1 million bond on June 18 through A Second Chance Bail Bond in “surety of Northbound Inc.” which is currently fighting paying the bond, court records show.

This story was originally published October 16, 2024 at 10:02 PM.