House where man was killed was targeted by shooters, police say

Police have no suspects and no leads in a deadly shooting that saw perhaps as many as three men fire more than 30 shots into a house near Lincoln and Oliver Wednesday night.

One of the bullets struck 33-year-old Terrance L. Smith Jr. in the head, killing him, homicide Lt. Todd Ojile said.

“During the investigation, we learned that (Smith) was visiting his brother” in the 800 block of South Broadview, Ojile said. That’s just west of Lincoln and Oliver in southeast Wichita.

Smith’s 28-year-old brother, a documented gang member, was at the back of the house when the shots were fired at about 7:15 p.m., Ojile said. He escaped injury.

“At this time we don’t know who they were targeting,” Ojile said. “We believe the house was specifically targeted. We believe they came to that house for a reason.”

There was no indication the suspects attempted to enter the house, he said. All of the shots were fired from the front yard before the shooters left the property on foot.

Investigators have heard there were two shooters; they’ve also heard there were three, Ojile said.

The same address was the location of a robbery that went unreported at about 6 p.m. Monday, Ojile said. Smith’s brother and a woman were the victims, according to a police report on the case. They lost cash, cellphones and a watch.

Police didn’t learn about the robbery until they were investigating the homicide, Ojile said. About six hours after the robbery, the younger brother was involved in a shooting incident at 19th and Minnesota, police say.

A witness told police that numerous shots were fired from a blue car at a black Chevy Suburban, Lt. James Espinoza said. One bullet struck the SUV, while another bullet hit a parked vehicle.

Officers responding to the 911 call stopped the targeted Suburban at 11th and Chautauqua, Espinoza said.

“The driver was uncooperative” with police, Espinoza said.

Anyone with information about the robbery or the two shooting incidents is being asked to call 911, the homicide section at 316-268-4182, or Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.

Anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers can also be submitted online at www.WichitaCrimeStoppers.com or from a mobile phone by texting TIP217 then the message to CRIMES (274637).

This story was originally published November 5, 2015 at 1:57 PM with the headline "House where man was killed was targeted by shooters, police say."