13 year old dies in shooting, Wichitans calling to educate youth on the tragedy gun violence brings
Nov 01, 2024
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — The WPD is still looking for who is responsible for shooting and killing a 13-year-old Wichita boy and sending another 15-year-old to the hospital.
KSN's Derek Lytle has been tracking this story since the shooting happened just after 10:30 on Halloween night.
There was a lot of emotion, kids coming up to the scene in tears, realizing someone they said they had been enjoying Halloween was dead. City Council Member Brandon Johnson said the loss of a 13-year-old should never be normal.
The 13-year-old was shot and killed outside a Quik Trip near Central and Oliver in Wichita. Police are still looking for the shooter.
"This stuff is senseless; this young man had his whole life ahead of him, but now he doesn't," said Johnson.
Johnson said his kids, like many other parents' kids, were out to enjoy the holiday. He said more intense talks with our young people must happen. To educate them, taking someone's last breath is not the answer.
"Show the value of life to our young people, that these temporary disagreements or problems, we don't have to make permanent decisions to end somebody's life. Until we have those conversations more intently, more seriously, and call out friends and family that don't agree with that, we'll keep seeing that," said Johnson.
Cure Violence, an initiative started in Wichita roughly six months ago, aims to provide youth with this education. Their members spent the day grieving with the boy's loved ones and said, this brutality needs to end.
"Violence on any level is heartbreaking, no matter the age, to lose anybody in this community, it takes away the opportunity for people to build this community," said Curve Violence Member A.J. Bohannon.
He said they are meeting kids in their neighborhoods, classrooms, and other places of comfort to learn how to best reach Wichita's youth.
Hopefully, prevention leads to less harm.
"Continue to integrate ourselves in this community, let these kids know they do have a different outlet, continue to show up, continue to have those conversations, continue to be in those difficult places, and the more we show up, the greater the impact, hopefully, it'll make some of these things go away," said Bohannon.
Wichita police said they are actively pursuing all leads but have yet to make any arrests in connection to the shooting death.
You can find details on how to get involved with Cure Violence here.