SEDGWICK COUNTY —A murder suspect captured by the U.S. Border Patrol and extradited to Kansas made his first court appearance Friday.
Patricio Gomez, 32, was charged with with 1st degree murder, attempted distribution of methamphetamine and criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.
On March 28, U.S. Border Patrol Agents in the El Paso Sector arrested Gomez who was wanted for murder in Wichita.
The El Paso Station Border Patrol Agent encountered a Gomez walking along the south side of the Border Barrier near Fonseca Drive and Cesar E. Chavez/Border Highway, according to a media release from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
When agents questioned the Gomez as to his citizenship, he stated that he was a U.S. citizen and that he had just entered the United States from Mexico, illegally, by attempting to drive his truck across the Rio Grande.
Gomez, was taken into custody, for the illegal entry, and transported to a Border Patrol station for further investigation. Record checks revealed that he had an extensive criminal history and an active warrant out of Wichita for murder.
Gomez was remanded to the custody of the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office until his extradition to Wichita.
Just before 6:30p.m. Sept. 30, 2021. officers responded to a shooting call at a hotel in the 9400 block of East Corporate Hills. Upon arrival, officers located 42-year-old Michael Martinez who had been shot. He was pronounced deceased on the scene.
The investigation revealed Patricio along with a woman arrived at the hotel regarding an illegal drug transaction. During the transaction, a disturbance ensued and Gomez fired multiple shots at Martinez, striking him. Gomez and the woman fled the scene in a black Cadillac Escalade.
Police located the Cadillac outside of a hotel in Park City.
Gomez next court date is April 25, He is in the Sedgwick County Jail on a bond of $500,000.