Teen acquaintance arrested in shooting husband, killing wife in north Wichita, police say

An 18-year-old Wichita man has been arrested in a Nov. 6 shooting that injured a husband and killed his wife, police said Friday.

The teen was arrested Thursday night and booked into jail at 6:44 p.m. on suspicion of first-degree murder, firing a gun into an occupied dwelling, and aggravated battery.

The suspect and victims are acquaintances, Wichita police spokesperson Juan Rebolledo said, adding police are still investigating a motive for the shooting.

Police said the couple, a 49-year-old man who they did not name publicly, and his wife, 48-year-old Deanna Garcia, were preparing for bed when the man reported hearing gunshots outside of their home at 11 p.m. in the 2300 block of North Mascot, which is near 22nd.

Witnesses reported hearing 18 to 20 gunshots, Rebolledo said.

Both victims were taken to a hospital. He was shot in the lower leg; she was shot in the upper body. She was pronounced dead at 11:54 p.m.

The suspect has a listed home address that is the same as where the victims live and were shot, but police do not believe he was living there at the time of the shooting.

Police say the suspect was on foot and outside the home when the shooting happened.

Court records don’t currently show any charges against the suspect. He remained in jail Friday.