Police say man killed in south Wichita apartment complex shooting was targeted
Wichita police say that a man shot while sitting in a vehicle at a south Wichita apartment complex Tuesday evening has died — and the shooting suspect is now in custody.
Montel Parks, 38, of Wichita, died Wednesday morning following the shooting at Emery Gardens Apartments, 4244 S. Hydraulic, Wichita police said in a news release.
A 32-year-old man was arrested Wednesday morning at a gas station on Central near I-235 after patrol officers recognized his vehicle based off of descriptions included in an internal informational bulletin that investigators distributed in the aftermath of the shooting, police said. The 32-year-old was expected to be booked into the Sedgwick County Jail on suspicion of first-degree murder, discharging a weapon at an occupied vehicle and being a felon in possession of a firearm, police said.
The Eagle does not name crime suspects unless they are formally charged in court.
“The arrest resulted from coordinated efforts between patrol officers, investigators, community members and technology,” including Flock cameras that recorded the suspect’s vehicle before the shooting happened, the release says.
“The case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office for formal charging consideration.”
Wichita police said Tuesday that a male victim — later identified as Parks — was hospitalized in “extreme critical condition” after he was shot around 6:30 p.m. while sitting in the driver’s seat of a vehicle at the apartment complex.
At the time, Wichita police Chief Joe Sullivan said the shooting was not random and investigators have a “strong direction” on the suspect.
“This was definitely a targeted event. Our victim was helpless when he was shot, and it’s a shame that someone would do that to someone when they’re in a vulnerable position, completely unable to defend themself,” he said Tuesday.
Children were outside playing at the time, Sullivan added.
“Every resource this department possesses has been put into action, put into motion. We’re going to work through the night, and I’m quite confident that we will have good news for this family and for this victim, as well as for the community as a whole,” he said.
Wichita police spokesman Andrew Ford said officers who responded to the shooting report found the victim with at least one gunshot wound to his upper body. First responders removed him from the vehicle and began life-saving support before he was rushed to the hospital, where he underwent surgery.
Police did not give any details about what may have motivated the shooter.
This story was originally published May 13, 2026 at 10:31 AM.
