Brawl breaks out during sentencing of man who killed teen at Wichita mall
A brawl broke out in a Sedgwick County courtroom Tuesday during the sentencing of the 19-year-old Wichita man who opened fire at Towne East Square in 2022, killing a 14-year-old.
Te’Bryis Robinson was sentenced to 21 years in prison after pleading no contest last year to second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder and aggravated battery in connection with the killing of TrenJ’vious Hutton.
Robinson was a juvenile when the shooting occurred, but prosecutors tried him as an adult. He was originally charged with first-degree premeditated murder and criminal use of weapons.
Hutton’s mother, Jeanette Dees, was finishing her victim impact statement in a packed courtroom. As she talked about losing her son, she became visibly angry toward Robinson.
“I beg you, give him the max [prison time],” Dees said looking at Robinson across the courtroom. “He has ruined my life, he’s ruined my kid’s life... You should just have walked away, you didn’t have to kill my (expletive) son.”
Others in the courtroom became upset and stood up. Someone muttered something across the courtroom and a fight broke out in the seating area of the courtroom.
Multiple deputies had to hop in and break up the fight. It’s unclear if anyone was arrested. Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett said any investigation leading to additional charges would be up to sheriff’s investigators.
Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office spokesperson Dan Dillon said the fight was the first he’d seen in his 12 years with the DA’s office.
Robinson was scheduled to be sentenced last year. But in a hearing on Sept. 30, he told a judge he wanted to withdraw the no contest plea he had entered in July.
Judge Jeffrey Goering denied Robinson’s request to withdraw his plea on March 21.
On Tuesday, he was sentenced to 155 months for the second-degree murder charge, 59 months for attempted second-degree murder and 41 months for aggravated battery, totaling 255 months. The sentences will be served consecutively.
The March 18, 2022 shooting at Towne East Square caused panic at the indoor mall. Police were called about 5:30 p.m. after several people argued and shots were fired. The mall was immediately closed and evacuated.
Robinson was accused of killing Hutton after a fistfight between a group of teens near the food court.
“Authorities have said the fight had apparently broken up when Robinson walked away then turned and fired several shots, killing Hutton,” The Eagle previously reported. “Robinson’s defense lawyers previously argued he fired in self-defense, in part because Hutton had a gun and used it to hit him in the head.”
But prosecutors said Hutton never pointed a gun at anyone and that Robinson’s use of deadly force was unjustified, court records show.
Hutton was remembered as a teen who loved basketball and being the center of attention.
“I am saddened and sick about this. My brother was a loving young man who was trying to make it in this world,” Hutton’s sister, Trentasia, said of her brother’s death.
Hutton’s death came shortly before his 15th birthday, which was March 30, his sister said in an interview.
This story was originally published April 8, 2025 at 5:45 PM.