Nov 30, 2020

Police release details on Kan. teen robbery suspect's death

Posted Nov 30, 2020 9:00 AM
Police attempting to communicate with the boy hiding in the attic. Photo courtesy Wichita Police
Police attempting to communicate with the boy hiding in the attic. Photo courtesy Wichita Police

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating an aggravated robbery and death of a teen  released additional details Sunday night on the tragic incident that  garnered significant public attention.

There had been some spread of false information and rumors, especially on social media about the death, according to Captain Wendell Nicholson, Commander of the Wichita Police Department's Patrol South Bureau.

Just before 7p.m. Saturday police went to an apartment complex in the 1000 Block of South Woodlawn in Wichita, according to Nicholson.  They were searching for a 16-year-old boy wanted for multiple felony warrants that included aggravated robbery with a firearm, aggravated battery, a weapons violation and an escape from custody.

Open access to the attic -image courtesy Wichita Police
Open access to the attic -image courtesy Wichita Police

Police believed the boy was at the apartment and then observed him walk inside, according to Nicholson. The homeowner allowed police inside to search for the boy. Officers heard noise in the attic and observed open access to the attic which led them to believe the boy was hiding in the attic.

Police and the boy's mother made several attempts to get the boy to come down from the attic. A Wichita Police crisis negotiator responded to the scene to help deescalate the situation and called for the boy to surrender peacefully. Officers worked for over two hours in an attempt to get the boy to come down from the attic, according to Nicholson.

9mm Taurus firearm found next to the boy-photo Wichita Police
9mm Taurus firearm found next to the boy-photo Wichita Police

During the entire time, officers received no verbal communication from the boy. K-9 officers sent in dogs to safely search for the boy. 

Just after 11p.m., officers located the boy deceased in the attic. He died from a self inflicted gunshot wound, according to Nicholson. They also found a 9mm Taurus firearm next to the boy.

During the incident, officers did not discharge their firearms. No weapons were used, according to Nicholson.

Social media continues to express a variety of opinions on the details of the incident and the public has asked police why they have not released more body camera images of the incident.