A shooting in Sedgwick County on Sunday has led to the death of a deputy and the suspect, according to Sheriff Jeff Easter.
The department says the deputy, Robert Kunze III, was responding to a suspicious character call west of Wichita after two people reported a suspicious black truck. Soon afterward, Kunze found a person and truck matching the description while the reporting parties then parked in front of the truck in question.
Early indications are Kunze patted down the suspect, found a 40-caliber handgun and moved the gun away. However, a fight developed as Kunze tried to handcuff the suspect, who remains unnamed at this time. Kunze was shot once, while the suspect was shot twice.
After Kunze pressed his emergency button and said he had been shot, a second deputy arrived a minute later to find both Kunze and the suspect down and unresponsive. The suspect was dead at the scene. Kunze was taken to St. Francis Hospital, where he died.
Authorities believe the suspect may have been responsible for three other crimes in the area Sunday, including separate thefts of the gun and truck. A second truck stolen as part of a potential aggravated robbery is also being looked at as connected to the suspect.
Kunze worked with the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office for 12 years. Prior to that, he worked for the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office.