SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man accused in the Sept. 2021 drive-by shooting made his first court appearance last week.
Kayden Wilson, 18 of Wichita, is charged with 1st degree murder, criminal discharge of a firearm, 5 counts of aggravated assault, and criminal use of weapons, a misdemeanor, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.
Just before 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 23, 2021 police responded to a disturbance with weapons shots fired at 15th and Kenmar near the Wichita State University State campus, according to Officer Charley Davidson.
While officers were traveling to the location, 16-year-old Azuri Jones who had been shot arrived at a local hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries.
The investigation revealed the three boys were in a red Kia along with another 16-year-old girl. The girl got into a disturbance with a boy inside of the vehicle in a parking lot in the 1400 block of North Terrace. During the disturbance, four of her girl friends pulled up in a white Honda. Azuri Jones was in the Honda. The 16-year-old got out of the Kia and got into the Honda.
The disturbance continued so the driver of the Honda left with Jones and three other girls in the car.
The three boys got back into the red Kia and began chasing the girls in the Honda. In the area of 15th and Kenmar, one of the boys fired multiple shots at the Honda striking Jones who was sitting in the back seat. The driver of the Honda drove directly to the hospital.
The red Kia was located unoccupied in the area of Vesta and Fountain in Wichita and was later found to have been reported stolen, according to Davidson.
A short time later, officers observed the three suspects in the area of 17th and Harvard in Wichita. They were all arrested after a short foot pursuit. Investigators also recovered a handgun during the investigation.
Kayden Wilson's next hearing in the case is scheduled for October 31.