Wichita police say three teenagers are in custody after a shooting outside of Towne East Square on Friday afternoon that left two other teens critically injured.
The shooting happened around 3:30 p.m. outside of the Scheels and Round1 Bowling & Arcade at Towne East Square in east Wichita. Several stores in the mall and Scheels were on a brief lockdown following the incident.
Wichita Police Chief Public Information Officer Andrew Ford said in a news conference that a fight occurred between five individuals when the shooting took place. Ford said two victims, aged 15 and 17, were taken to local hospitals with critical injuries.
An off-duty officer in plain clothes at the mall detained one shooter as police arrived on the scene, Ford said. In total, three suspects were arrested: Two 17-year-olds and one 16-year-old.
Police say the suspects attempted to flee the scene but were taken into custody by authorities at the scene.
A rifle caliber pistol was found at the scene, Ford said.
Police say all suspects are in custody and there is no ongoing threat to the community.
Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan said the situation was “another example of teens with a high-powered weapon making very poor choices.”
