By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

A Kansas man pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the shooting death of a Hays man in February.

Ryan Paul Thompson, 34, Ellis, faces more than 23 years in prison after pleading guilty Monday to shooting 26-year-old Diego Gallaway on Feb. 27 in the 2700 block of Indian Trail in Hays.

Thompson was originally charged with premeditated first-degree murder, criminal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.

According to court documents, Thompson shot Gallaway in the back of the head while holding him in a choke hold.

Under the plea agreement, Thompson faces 272 months in prison for second-degree murder and another 15 months on the drug charge, for a total of 287 months in prison. The gun charge was dropped.

Thompson’s sentencing will be scheduled for later this year.

Also on Monday, Kylie Waldschmidt was bound over as charged with aiding and abetting first-degree murder during commission of inherently dangerous felony.

Ellis County Attorney Tom Drees said Waldschmidt and Thompson went to the 2700 block of Indian Trail to commit an aggravated battery or aggravated assault that escalated to murder.

Waldschmidt was also bound over for interference with law enforcement for allegedly lying to police.

A formal arraignment for Waldschmidt has not been set.

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a criminal homicide that left a man dead.

Just after 12:30 a.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to a shooting call at Magoos Bar and Grill located in the 2300 block of S. Oliver in Wichita, according to officer Kevin Wheeler. Upon arrival, officers located the scene of a shooting, but no victim was located.

Shortly after, the victim identified as 29-year-old Demario Cooks of Wichita arrived by private vehicle at an area hospital with critical injuries and later died, according to Police Captain Brent Allred.

The preliminary investigation has revealed that the Cooks was inside the bar attending a birthday party, and a disturbance occurred between several other men. They moved into the parking lot, and multiple shots were fired, striking the victim.

Investigators have identified one individual who was at the scene. Police located him at a residence in the 1100 Block of North Pershing in Wichita, according to Allred. He had a gunshot wound to his arm and was taken to the hospital for medical treatment.  Police investigators are working to contact others who were at the scene.

This was not a random incident. It the 22nd criminal homicide in Wichita in 2019, according to officer Charley Davidson.

Anyone with information on this crime is encouraged to contact police.

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SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a criminal homicide that left a 29-year-old man dead.

Just after 12:30 a.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to a shooting call at Magoos Bar and Grill located in the 2300 block of S. Oliver in Wichita, according to officer Kevin Wheeler. Upon arrival, officers located the scene of a shooting, but no victim was located.

Shortly after, the victim from the shooting arrived by private vehicle at an area hospital with critical injuries and later died, according to Wheeler.

The preliminary investigation has revealed that the victim was inside the bar, and a disturbance occurred between several other men. They moved into the parking lot, and multiple shots were fired, striking the victim.

This was not a random incident. Police have not identified the victim or reported an arrest.

Anyone with information on this crime is encouraged to contact police.

BARTON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on new charges after a weekend arrest.

Just after 4p.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to the Super 8 Motel, 911 Grant Street in Great Bend in reference to a suspicious subject on the property, according to a media release.

Upon Officers arrival, they made contact with the subject later identified as 35-year-old Leroy Bowers inside the business. He initially provided officers with a false name. Officers were able to identify Bowers, who was wanted on five warrants. Bowers was placed under arrest, and found to be in possession of methamphetamine, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia.

Bowers was transported to the Barton County Jail, where he was booked and confined on his five warrants, along with his new charges.

He has previous convictions for burglary, theft and obstruction, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections. He had been out of prison since December 2017.

 

INDEPENDENCE, Kan—  Police reported just after 1p.m. Monday that a cougar of the loose after escaping from the zoo has been captured. According to a social media media report from the Independence Kansas police department, the animal is safely back in its enclosure.

Authorities have not released details on the escape or where the animal was found. There have been no injuries reported.

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INDEPENDENCE, Kan. (AP) — Officials at a southeast Kansas zoo say a cougar is on the loose after escaping from the zoo.

The cougar escaped Monday morning from Riverside Park and Ralph Mitchell Zoo in Independence.

The zoo said in a news release that park officials and police officers are searching for the animal. They urged citizens to be cautious and not approach the cougar if they see it.

Details on how the cougar escaped have not been released.

Independence is about 113 miles southeast of Wichita.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly has opened a review of options for expanding Medicaid in Kansas with warnings against work requirements and a limited expansion.

Kelly gave opening remarks Monday at the first meeting of a council she appointed to provide the Republican-controlled Legislature with policy guidance ahead of next year’s expected debate on the issue.

Kelly said she wants the council to develop “guiding principles” for lawmakers. She described work requirements and a limited Medicaid expansion as ideas that haven’t worked well in other states.

The governor took office in January pushing to expand the state’s Medicaid health coverage for as many as 150,000 additional residents. An expansion plan passed the House, but conservative GOP leaders blocked it in the Senate, expressing concerns about its potential costs to the s

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating the death of a child and have made two arrests.

Just after 11a.m. Sunday, police responded to a residence in the 1100 Block of Munnell in Wichita where a two-year-old boy was not breathing, according to Captain Brent Allred. Despite efforts by police, fire and EMS crews, the child was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators found the child had extensive bruising all over his body. This led to the arrest of the boy’s mother Stephanie Avilas, 24, for alleged aggravated child endangerment and her boyfriend Bernardo Gonzalez-Mejia, 31, Wichita for alleged child abuse, according to Allred.

The mother had called 911. She was on an errand and not home at the time and the boyfriend had contacted her about the child not breathing. Gonzalez-Mejia and the 2-year-old were home alone at the time of the incident.

An autopsy is scheduled to determine the cause of death. That will determine if additional charges will be filed, according to Allred. He did not release the boys’s name.
Two other children in the home a 6-year-old boy and a 5-year-old girl are in police protective custody, according to Allred.

There was one report from the Department of Children’s Familes in 2015 on the family. It did not involve abuse, according to Allred.

DONIPHAN COUNTY– The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) confirmed that the man injured Sunday, Sept. 22, during a fight at a party in Doniphan County has died from his injuries.

According to a media release from the KBI, Jason W. Pantle, 42, of Cummings, died Saturday at the University of Kansas Medical Center where he was being treated for head injuries following an altercation with other party attendees. He was transported by a family member to a residence in the 1600 block of Jayhawk Dr., in Atchison, where police and EMS were called around 4:20 a.m. Sunday morning. The injured man was transported by EMS to a local Atchison hospital. He was later transferred to a Kansas City area hospital where he remains hospitalized in critical condition.

Then, on Wednesday evening, Sept. 25, KBI agents served several search warrants and arrest warrants connected to the case. At 6 p.m., 44-year-old Scott A. Vandeloo, of Atchison, was arrested at 1712 Prairie View Rd. in Platte City, Mo. He was arrested for aggravated battery, and booked into the Platte County Jail.

At approximately 7 p.m., 22-year-old Brian A. Spillman Jr., of Atchison, was arrested for aggravated battery after surrendering at the intersection of Mineral Point Rd. and Monument Rd. in rural Doniphan County. Then, at around 8:30 p.m., Matthew C. Scherer, 30, of Atchison, was arrested for aggravated battery when he surrendered at the Doniphan County Sheriff’s Office at 219 S. Main St. in Troy, Kan. Both Spillman and Scherer were booked into the Leavenworth County Jail.

Assisting in these arrests were the Atchison Police Department, the Doniphan County Sheriff’s Office, the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, and the Platte County Sheriff’s Office. The Doniphan County Attorney is expected to prosecute the case.

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DONIPHAN COUNTY– The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) made three arrests Wednesday evening related to a fight that occurred at a weekend party in Doniphan County.

The KBI was requested by the Doniphan County Sheriff’s Office to assist in investigating a confrontation that occurred at a party at 159 Monument Rd. in Doniphan County on Sunday, Sept. 22.

During the overnight party, a 42-year-old white male received serious head injuries during an altercation with other party attendees. He was transported by a family member to a residence in the 1600 block of Jayhawk Dr., in Atchison, where police and EMS were called around 4:20 a.m. Sunday morning. The injured man was transported by EMS to a local Atchison hospital. He was later transferred to a Kansas City area hospital where he remains hospitalized in critical condition.

Then, on Wednesday evening, Sept. 25, KBI agents served several search warrants and arrest warrants connected to the case. At 6 p.m., 44-year-old Scott A. Vandeloo, of Atchison, was arrested at 1712 Prairie View Rd. in Platte City, Mo. He was arrested for aggravated battery, and booked into the Platte County Jail.

At approximately 7 p.m., 22-year-old Brian A. Spillman Jr., of Atchison, was arrested for aggravated battery after surrendering at the intersection of Mineral Point Rd. and Monument Rd. in rural Doniphan County. Then, at around 8:30 p.m., Matthew C. Scherer, 30, of Atchison, was arrested for aggravated battery when he surrendered at the Doniphan County Sheriff’s Office at 219 S. Main St. in Troy, Kan. Both Spillman and Scherer were booked into the Leavenworth County Jail.

Assisting in these arrests were the Atchison Police Department, the Doniphan County Sheriff’s Office, the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, and the Platte County Sheriff’s Office. The Doniphan County Attorney is expected to prosecute the case.
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COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa — Two Omaha residents face an involuntary manslaughter charge following a May shooting death of a Kansas man in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

A grand jury returned indictments against 25-year-old Jonathan Echtinaw and 23-year-old Carissa Lynn Kendall for the death of 18-year-old Ethan Edgar.

According to police, Edgar was behind the wheel of a stolen vehicle parked in a gas station lot at South Main and 9th Avenue in Council Bluffs. Echtinaw and several others were looking for it.

Two individuals in separate vehicle confronted Edgar. They parked in front and back of the stolen car. When Edgar tried to ram the two vehicles, the driver of one of the vehicles fired a number of shots, hitting Edgar twice.

Police say Edgar drove from the scene with the other two giving chase. Kendall was driving the car during that chase.  Edgar lost control of the vehicle at the intersection of South Main and 5th Avenue and struck a tree. He died later at the hospital.

If convicted, Echtinaw and Kendall both face up to two years in prison. They are both scheduled for arraignment on Oct. 4 with a jury trial scheduled for Nov. 12.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY — Authorities have identified the runner killed by lightning as he was about to finish a 50 kilometer race in southeast Kansas.

Thomas Stanley, 33,  of Andover, was struck Saturday while competing in the race at the Elk City State Park, according to a social media post from Organizers of the FlatRock race. The park is about 150 miles southwest of Kansas City

Race Director Carolyn Robinson says many runners and officials tried to give Stanley CPR and first-aid, but were unsuccessful. Robinson says his wife was presented the medal he would have received. The couple had three children.

Friends have established a Go Fund Me page to assist the family.

His family described him in a statement as a “devoted husband, father, and friend.” Stanley worked for the nonprofit Kansas Leadership Center, which provides leadership training.

–The AP contributed to this report.

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MONTGOMERY COUNTY — One person died after a lightning strike Saturday at Elk City Park near Independence, Kansas, according to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.

An investigation of the incident is underway and the sheriff’s office reported early Sunday they expected to release additional details including the identity of the victim on Monday after they had contacted family.

The victim was participating in a run at the park, according to the sheriff’s department.