Winfield law enforcement officials expect charges to be filed soon against two or more of the subjects involved in a shooting last month at the Jump Start convenience store.
“There’ll be at least a couple people charged with different things,” Police Chief Jerry DeVore said Thursday. “It’s who will be charged with what that we’re figuring out. We’re waiting for lab reports on some items. The prosecutor will review all the reports and determine what charges are filed.”
County attorney Christopher Smith was out of the office and not available for comment.
Police have determined that at least two people fired a combined 20 shots or more during an altercation Oct. 28 at the Jump Start on Main in Winfield. Numerous bullet casings were recovered in the store’s parking lot and police detained some who attempted to flee the scene.
One person, Aaron Brown, 26, was shot but quickly treated and released from the hospital.
So far only one person connected with the incident, Robert L. White, 26, Wichita, is in custody. He was pulled over in Sedgwick County and remains in jail on charges unrelated to the Jump Start shooting.
White has been identified as a person of interest in the Winfield shootings and Sedgwick County officials have been notified that charges may be filed against him in Cowley County, DeVore said.
“We’ve made sure he’s not going anywhere,” the chief said.
Several of those connected with the early morning shootout are on probation or parole, according to law enforcement officials. Four of the men were from Wichita, DeVore said. The others were from Cowley County.
Some at the scene had gang affiliations.
These factors have complicated the investigation and the process of filing charges. If prosecutors can prove a gang link, then the state may be able to pursue more stringent charges that apply to gang-related crimes, DeVore said.
Police must also determine if any of the people involved violated terms of their parole or probation. Those violations can lead to jail time.
Although, police believe one party involved started the shooting, both parties were involved in a verbal altercation that quickly turned violent.
“Any one of a number of people could have walked away. That didn’t happen,’ DeVore said. “It’s up to us to determine who started what.”
