Wichita man pleads no contest for role in mass shooting at Old Town night club
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- John Houze pleaded no contest to a felony weapon charge in 2023 mass shooting.
- Prosecutors dropped multiple assault and firearm charges in Monday’s plea deal.
- Surveillance footage showed Houze firing through a crowd at City Nightz club.
A 29-year-old Wichita man has pleaded no contest to one count of criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon for his role in a mass shooting at a nightclub in the city’s Old Town entertainment district.
John D. Houze is scheduled for sentencing Sept. 4 by Sedgwick County District Judge Seth Rundle. In exchange for his plea Monday, prosecutors agreed to dismiss several counts of aggravated assault and unlawful discharge of a firearm, court records show.
Authorities say Houze was among a group of men who fired shots just before 1 a.m. July 2, 2023, at the now-closed City Nightz night club, 222 N. Washington. At the time, the club was hosting an after party 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 and gunfire broke out.
At least four people fired shots, including a member of the rapper’s security detail.
A probable cause affidavit says Houze took cover after people started running and hiding and then fired indiscriminately multiple times toward the front entrance of the club through the crowd.
In a police interview, he denied having a gun or shooting anyone, but security surveillance cameras from inside the club caught the chaos on video, the affidavit says.
At least nine people were hurt by gunfire and another two were injured when they were trampled by the fleeing crowd, police have said.
Houze and two other Wichita men were charged. Jaylen Thomas, 23, whom prosecutors say was the first to pull a gun and fire, is serving a 6-year, 10-month prison sentence. Ameir King-Ingram, 21, is serving a 4-year, 5-month prison sentence.
.JPG "144A9166 (2).JPG")
