Crime
5 people dead after shooting across three separate locations in south Wichita
Preliminary investigations suggest that all individuals involved knew one another.
On Sunday evening, Sedgwick County officials confirmed a tragic shooting incident in south Wichita that left five people dead across three separate locations.
The shootings occurred around the 1700 block of Santa Fe and the 1900 block of South Laura, with the initial call reporting gunfire at approximately 5:44 p.m.
Upon arriving at the scene on Santa Fe, officers discovered a man who had died from an apparent gunshot wound.
Shortly thereafter, police were dispatched to a second location on South Laura, where they found three more individuals, all deceased from gunshot injuries.
A fifth individual, also suffering from gunshot wounds, was found nearby but succumbed to the injuries shortly after first responders arrived.
Preliminary investigations suggest that all individuals involved knew one another, and officials believe one of the deceased may be the suspected shooter.
While this has not yet been confirmed, authorities are working to establish a clear motive and piece together the sequence of events.
“This is a tragic incident and a senseless act impacting multiple families,” said Wichita Police Department Public Information Officer Andrew Ford.
He noted that there is no further threat to the public and that the investigation remains active as authorities work to uncover additional details.
Authorities have confirmed that the deadly shooting at Brown University occurred inside a first-floor classroom within the Barus and Holley Engineering Building. Investigators believe all 11 victims were students.
Two individuals were pronounced dead, while the remaining victims were transported to area hospitals.
One additional victim was later confirmed to have sustained injuries from bullet fragments and is expected to make a full recovery.
According to Providence Police, the suspect fled the building immediately after the shooting, exiting onto Hope Street and then moving toward the Waterman Street area.
More than six hours after the incident, the suspect remains at large.
Officials stated that there is no interior surveillance footage of the shooter inside the Barus and Holley building.
Authorities have also been unable to determine how the suspect initially entered the building or precisely where he went after fleeing the scene.
Police described the suspect as a male, possibly in his 30s, dressed in black.
Investigators are also reviewing video evidence that may show the suspect wearing a camouflage-style face covering, though that detail has not yet been fully confirmed.
The incident unfolded shortly after 4:20 p.m., when Brown University issued an emergency alert warning of an active shooter near the Barus and Holley Engineering Building.
Students, faculty, staff, and nearby residents were instructed to shelter in place, lock doors, silence mobile devices, and remain hidden.
The alert emphasized standard emergency guidance: evacuate only if it was safe to do so, hide if evacuation was not possible, and take defensive action only as a last resort.
At approximately 5:27 p.m., the university issued a follow-up alert reporting additional shots fired near Governor Street, about two blocks from the original scene.
Minutes later, the Providence Police Department confirmed that multiple people had been shot in the area surrounding the campus.
During an evening news conference, Providence Deputy Police Chief Tim O’Hara said investigators believe a firearm was used in the attack, though no weapon has been recovered and the type of firearm remains unknown.
Police confirmed there was no direct interaction between officers and the suspect, who fled on foot before law enforcement arrived.
Authorities also addressed reports of a separate police confrontation involving gunfire several blocks away.
Officials clarified that while that incident initially led to reports of a suspect being detained, investigators have not established a confirmed connection between that encounter and the Brown University shooting.
Providence Mayor Brett Smiley confirmed that no suspect is currently in custody and emphasized that Brown University officials, the Providence Police Department, and the FBI are working in close coordination to locate the individual responsible.
The Barus and Holley Engineering Building, constructed in 1965, houses classrooms, laboratories, offices, and lecture halls for the university’s engineering and physics departments and was occupied at the time due to scheduled exams.
As of the latest update, the shelter-in-place order remains in effect.
Authorities continue to urge the public to avoid the area while the investigation remains ongoing.
Officials have not released identifying information about the victims, citing respect for the families and the active nature of the investigation.