Kan murder suspect wounded by police. appears in court

SEDGWICK COUNTY — A suspect charged in a fatal shooting in Wichita last weekend made his first court appearance in the case Wednesday.

Jose A. Acosta, 33, was charged with first-degree murder; Criminal discharge of a firearm; Occupied apartment causing bodily harm; criminal discharge of a firearm; Charge recklessly towards an occupied vehicle; aggravated robbery; Armed with a dangerous weapon; aggravated assault on a police officer; use of a deadly weapon; The charges are criminal possession of a weapon by a felon and assault, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.

On Monday, Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter provided an update on a series of violent incidents involving Acosta.

Timeline of events

At 8:52 p.m., Wichita police officers were dispatched to a reported robbery with a firearm in the 1400 block of North Otis. The suspect, identified as 33-year-old Jose Antonio Acosta, pistol-whipped one person, pointed the gun at another person and stole their bicycle.

At 8:56 p.m., as Acosta walked away from the robbery, he fired several shots into a residence in the 1400 block of North Otis. The homeowner narrowly escaped being shot, but the dog was hit by the shots.

At 9:16 p.m., another victim reported an attempted carjacking near 16th Street and Broadway. Acosta allegedly smashed the window of the vehicle with a gun and then fired several shots at the car as the driver fled. Evidence of gunfire, including damage to the rear window of the vehicle, was confirmed.

At 9:20 p.m., officers investigating the area heard gunshots south of 13th Street and Broadway. It was determined that Acosta had a confrontation with an unknown man at 11th Street and Broadway and fired several shots. Detectives are actively searching for this person.

Around the same time, Acosta confronted a woman across the street at a supermarket. After a verbal argument, he fired several shots at her. Luckily she wasn’t injured.

At 9:26 p.m., two WPD officers located Acosta near 11th Street and Broadway next to the stolen bicycle. After repeated orders to surrender, Acosta attempted to draw his firearm, which was prevented by an extended magazine. He finally pointed the gun at the officers, causing them to shoot. Acosta suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Additional incident

While interviewing victims of the Otis robbery, officers searched Prospect Park near 13th and Main. There they discovered the body of 40-year-old Myron Tucker of Wichita, who had suffered gunshot wounds. Investigators believe Tucker was shot shortly before the robbery at around 8:49 p.m.

Arrest

Acosta was released from the hospital Sunday and booked into the Sedgwick County Jail. There are several charges against him, including:

1. First degree murder.
2. Attempted first-degree murder and attempted aggravated robbery.
3. Aggravated robbery and aggravated assault.
4. Aggravated assault and criminal discharge of a firearm.
5. Two cases of serious bodily harm against police officers.
6. Felon in possession of a firearm (due to prior felony conviction).

This investigation is ongoing and investigators are working to identify and locate additional individuals involved in these incidents. We thank all agencies and officers who responded to this series of violent events and ensured the suspect’s quick arrest.

Anyone with further information is asked to contact the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Division at (316) 660-5300 or Crime Stoppers at (316) 267-2111.