'This is crazy': Neighbors react to suspected murdersuicide of five men
Nov 11, 2024
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) - Wichitans are asking questions about the shooting deaths of five people on Sunday.
On Sunday, police got a report of a death on South Santa Fe, where they discovered a man had died of apparent gunshot wounds and later discovered four more bodies in two separate homes on South Laura Street. Police believe one of the men had shot the other four before turning the gun on himself.
KSN asked Wichita police for an interview, but they declined. Instead, they provided more details via email: All five were men ages 39 to 68.
Police have not yet released the victims' names, but they believe they knew each other. They have not given any other details about their connection.
Neighbors say the incident is disquieting.
"We're just all in a state of shock that this would happen this close," said neighbor David Briggs.
A south Wichita neighborhood rocked by gun violence.
"I just thought it was crazy; that was pretty much it. This is crazy," said neighbor Maliyja Lewis.
"It was pretty nerve-wracking because it was the first time there were so many police officers. There's, like, usually three cars over here, but this time there was a whole street closed off with a bunch of police officers," said neighbor Jacueline Velasco.
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Briggs says he knew one of the men living in the now-taped-off homes on South Laura Street.
"He did all his mechanical work in the driveway at home or in his garage and was a real quiet person," he said.
Another neighbor who declined to speak on camera said the same thing about that neighbor, saying she'd often see him quietly working on cars.
"The whole family never did anything. Never had any parties or anything. Nothing wild going on there," said Briggs.
A different neighbor who also declined an on-camera interview lives next door to one of the cordoned-off homes. She tells KSN that the man in the home next to her was friendly and mowed his neighbors' lawns in the summer, including hers.
The deaths are a tragic surprise.
"It's pretty quiet here. It's a quiet neighborhood. There don't be much going on over here," said Lewis.
"The whole neighborhood is shocked that this happened, and all we can do is let them know that our energy. Our prayers are behind them," said Briggs.
Those who wish to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers by calling 316-267-2111, submitting a tip online, or submitting a tip through their mobile app, which is available through Google Play and Apple's App Store.
Tune into KSN News at 6 p.m. for continuing coverage with Zena Taher.