Crime
18-Year-Old Arrested for First-Degree Murder in Southeast Wichita Shooting
Wichita, KS – An 18-year-old man has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder following a fatal shooting in a southeast Wichita neighborhood.
The victim has been identified as 23-year-old Manuel Roach, a Wichita resident.
According to the Wichita Police Department (WPD), officers responded to reports of gunfire shortly after 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday in the 1200 block of South Bleckley Drive, located southeast of Lincoln and Oliver.
Upon arrival, authorities discovered Roach with life-threatening gunshot wounds.
He was rushed to a local hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Preliminary investigations indicate that Roach was involved in a disturbance with three unidentified men, all dressed in black, before the shooting.
Witnesses reported seeing the suspects exit a white SUV, approach the victim, and open fire.
The suspects then fled the scene before law enforcement arrived.
The 18-year-old suspect, who has not been publicly identified, later arrived at a hospital with a gunshot wound to his leg.
Police determined he was involved in the shooting, leading to his arrest and booking into the Sedgwick County Jail on a first-degree murder charge.
Authorities believe Roach was targeted, though the circumstances leading up to the shooting remain under investigation.
The case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.
WPD is actively searching for the three additional suspects and the white SUV seen leaving the scene.
Officials urge anyone with information to contact Wichita Police at 911 or provide anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.
Authorities have identified the suspect in Thursday’s deadly shooting at Florida State University (FSU) as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, the son of longtime Leon County Sheriff’s Deputy Jessica Ikner.
During an afternoon press conference, FSU Police Chief Jason Trumbower confirmed that Phoenix Ikner was responsible for opening fire near the university’s Student Union Building, killing two individuals and injuring six others.
The incident unfolded around 11:50 a.m. on April 17, when the gunman began shooting on the university’s main campus in Tallahassee.
“FSU police responded immediately, engaged, neutralized, and apprehended the shooter,” Trumbower said. Ikner, believed to be an FSU student, was taken into custody and transported to a local hospital following the incident.
Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell detailed the law enforcement response, stating that officers confronted Ikner and opened fire when he failed to comply with commands.
He was subsequently subdued and taken for medical treatment.
Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil confirmed that the suspect is the son of Deputy Jessica Ikner, a veteran of the department with over 18 years of service.
“She has performed her duties with distinction,” McNeil stated, expressing support for Deputy Ikner during what he described as a devastating moment for her and the department.
Investigators revealed that the weapon used in the shooting was a handgun previously issued to Deputy Ikner before she transitioned to a new service weapon.
It was reportedly her personal firearm. Authorities also found a shotgun in Ikner’s possession at the scene, though it remains unclear whether it was discharged during the attack.
“We are continuing to investigate the role each weapon may have played and whether the suspect had access to additional firearms,” McNeil said.
Chief Revell added that Phoenix Ikner had been a “long-standing member” of the Leon County Sheriff’s Office Youth Advisory Council and had participated in several law enforcement-related programs over the years.
“It’s not surprising to us that he had some level of access to firearms given his history within the agency’s youth programs,” Revell stated.
The motive behind the shooting remains unclear. Authorities noted that Ikner has so far refused to cooperate with investigators or provide any explanation for his actions.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is assisting in the investigation and has requested that anyone who witnessed the shooting or has relevant information or media uploads related to the incident submit tips through their official website at www.fbi.gov/fsushooting.
FSU remains under heightened security as law enforcement continues to process the scene and gather evidence.