SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas woman was sentenced to prison on Friday for the hit-and-run killing of a man riding a bicycle in March of 2021.
Charity Blackmon, 32, Wichita, was sentenced to more than 46 years in prison, according to the Sedgwick Co. District Attorney's office.
In March, she avoided a jury trial and pled guilty to 2nd degree intentional murder and criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, according to the District Attorney's office.
On March 26, 2021 police were dispatched to 13th Street North and Oliver Avenue in Wichita for a shooting call, according to officer Paul Cruz. Upon arriving, they located 54-year-old Merrill Rabus of Wichita unconscious and receiving life-saving measures.
Rabus had undetermined injuries, including what appeared to be a single gunshot wound. He was transported to an area hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
The investigation revealed Rabus was on his bicycle at the intersection of 13th Street North and Oliver Avenue when he was struck by a white Plymouth van driven by 31-year-old Charity Blackmon.
Blackmon then got out of her vehicle and fired a shot from a handgun, striking Rabus. Blackmon fled the scene and was followed by witnesses who provided her location. She was located and arrested at 14th Street North and Green Street by a Wichita State University police officer/
Blackmon and Rabus were not known to each other. Officers also recovered a handgun through their investigation.