WICHITA (FoxKansas.com) -- Two people were in custody Monday following the separate weekend slayings of a 19-year-old man and a 46-year-old woman, authorities said.
Police said a 17-year-old teen has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with the Sunday morning shooting death of Darius Gasper, who suffered a gunshot wound to the head. Police said Gasper was shot shortly after 1 am in the 1200 block of North Pennsylvania. The identity of the teen shooting suspect was pending.
According to reports, Gasper's shooting resulted from a dispute between two rival gangs. Apparently the two groups began fighting during a party that was being held at the residence and shots were fired. Someone in the area called police to the neighborhood after hearing gunfire.
Gasper was taken by private car to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Medical officials told police about the homicide and officers went to the scene.
Police have spoken to bystanders who may have witnessed the incident. Family members told reporters that the shooting stemmed from a fight at a party in which Gasper tried to break up.
The second slaying over the weekend occurred in southeast Wichita and involved a 46-year-old woman who was found dead in her boyfriend's apartment Saturday morning. Investigators said Dana Arnold was strangled to death and authorities have arrested her 50-year-old boyfriend.
The man apparently called police to the apartment complex, located in the 800 block of South Beverly, shortly before 11 am. Police found the woman's body when they arrived.
Investigators initially classified the death as suspicious but ruled it a homicide after conducting an initial investigation. Police said they don't know how long Arnold had been dead before they arrived. According to a broadcast report, the woman and been dating the man for two years. She was said to be separated from her husband, who has custody of the couple's three children.
Investigators have also not publicly revealed a motive.
FoxKansas.com Staff Writer Alfred Charles contributed to this report. He can be reached at acharles@nptvgroup.com.
