SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a series of shootings in Wichita that have left four teens dead in separate incidents.
The latest teen homicide occurred Friday. Just before 9 p.m., police were dispatched to a reported shooting in the vicinity of 11700 E. Waterman in Wichita, according to Officer Kris Gupilan.
At the same time, a local hospital reported a walk-in shooting victim. Officers arrived at the hospital and located 17-year-old Julio Ruiz, of Wichita. who had sustained gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead a short time after arriving at the hospital. On Saturday, police reported they arrested a 14-year-old boy on requested charges of 1st Degree Murder for the death of Ruiz.
Just after 11:45p.m. January 26, the Wichita Police Department responded to reports of shots being fired in the area of 5200 E Kensington in Wichita, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.
Around the same time, officers were dispatched to an area hospital for the report of two walk-in shooting victims. Emoni Shears, 14, and Jhiquez Roberts, 19, both of Wichita were later pronounced deceased at the hospital.
Police have arrested 18-year-old Hayden Rydell Williams, a 14-year-old boy, a 16-year-old boy and 17-year-old boy all from Wichita and a 15-year-old boy from Garden City in connection with the double homicide, according to Police Lt. Aaron Moses.
On January 28, police arrived at an apartment at 8405 W. Central in Wichita, to check on 14-year-old Claude Hodges after his father called concerned for his welfare.
After a lengthy standoff involving the boy's mother identified as 43-year-old Kylee R. Hodges, SWAT Team officers fired shots wounding her. When officers reentered the apartment, they discovered Claude Hodges in a bedroom deceased from a gunshot wound. His mother is suspected in her son's death. She continues to recover from her injuries and is not in custody, according to online jail records.