Man convicted in mass shooting at now-closed Wichita nightclub gets prison sentence
A 25-year-old Wichita man has been ordered to serve six years, 10 months in prison for his role in a mass shooting last year at a now-closed nightclub in Wichita’s Old Town entertainment district.
Jaylen Thomas was sentenced Friday to 82 months in prison for the July 2, 2023, shooting at City Nightz, 222 N. Washington. Sedgwick County District Judge David Dahl also ordered Thomas to pay $8,499.89 to one of the shooting victims plus another $1,000 to the club, Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office spokesman Dan Dillon said via email.
Nine people were hurt by gunfire and another two were injured when they were trampled by the fleeing crowd, police have said.
Thomas pleaded guilty in September to two counts of aggravated battery and one count of aggravated assault, Dillon said.
Wichita police have said gunfire broke out just before 1 a.m. July 2, 2023, as the club was hosting an afterparty for rap artist Timothy “Mozzy” Patterson following his performance at another downtown venue. Patterson was at the club with his entourage, including armed security, when a fistfight started, court records say.
Prosecutors have said Thomas was the first to pull and fire a gun, although he has argued he acted in self-defense after someone else fired. Three other people, including one of the rapper’s security detail, fired shots after that, court records say.
Thomas’ lawyer had asked the judge to put Thomas on probation Friday, saying in court filings that he had accepted responsibility, made efforts to rehabilitate and had no prior adult felony convictions.
But Dahl said prison was a fair punishment.
Thomas was one of three men charged in the case. The others:
Ameir King-Ingram, 20, in June received a prison sentence of four years, five months after pleading guilty to one count of aggravated battery and six counts of aggravated assault.
John D. Houze, 28, is scheduled for jury trial on Jan. 29. He is charged with six counts of aggravated assault and one count each of criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon and unlawful discharge of a firearm in city limits.
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This story was originally published December 20, 2024 at 7:44 PM.
