Jul 02, 2023

Kan. felon charged with murder of man who crashed SUV

Posted Jul 02, 2023 12:00 AM
Hazelton has previous convictions for falsely reporting a crime and Giving false alarm - false information regarding violent criminal activity or threat to persons life, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.-photo Sedgwick Co.
Hazelton has previous convictions for falsely reporting a crime and Giving false alarm - false information regarding violent criminal activity or threat to persons life, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.-photo Sedgwick Co.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man accused in a deadly shooting and crash made a court appearance in the case this week.  

Damion Hazelton, 24 of Wichita, is charged with 2nd degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office

Hazelton is also charged in two other cases, aggravated battery and interference with law enforcement. 

Just before 2:30p.m. June 23, police in Wichita received a series of 911 calls about a vehicle collision and a shooting in the 7000 Block of East Lincoln in Wichita, according to Officer Aaron Moses.

Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH
Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH

First responders located a red GMC Yukon that struck a building and a victim later identified as 49-year-old Chris Baker of Wichita, inside the SUV with a gunshot wound.. Life-saving measures were attempted, but Baker would be pronounced deceased on the scene.

Investigators at the scene learned from witnesses that someone involved in the crash had fled into one of the nearby buildings, according to Moses. A small group of the Wichita Police SWAT team responded to the scene. 

 Investigators worked through the evening hours and were able to determine that Hazelton was the shooter.

Police located and arrested him without incident.   He is due back in court on July 12 and remains jailed on a $600,000 bond.  has previous convictions for falsely reporting a crime and Giving false alarm - false information regarding violent criminal activity or threat to persons life, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.