SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting in connection with a drug deal and have a suspect in custody.
Just after 6:00 p.m. Jan. 12, police were dispatched to a shooting call in the 1800 block of S Greenwood in Wichita, according to Officer Trevor Macy. They arrived to find a 35-year-old victim with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. Before officers arrived, it was reported that the suspect, later identified as 34-year-old Nathaniel Kester of Wichita had fled the scene in the victim's vehicle.
Officers learned that the victim and Kester were at a home on Greenwood when a disturbance occurred, and Kester went to the backyard and fired two rounds from a handgun. The victim confronted Kester and was shot in the leg. Kester then forced the victim to get into a vehicle, where another struggle ensued, and two more shots were fired.
The victim was able to get the gun away from Kester and retreat into the home. Shortly after officers arrived on Greenwood, 911 operators received multiple calls about the victim's vehicle, which was reported to have crashed somewhere near 2nd and Topeka Street in Wichita.
The vehicle continued to Central and Main, where it was abandoned, and Kester ran to the Sedgwick County Jail where he was arrested, according to Macy.
Both Kester and the victim were transported to the hospital for treatment and released. Kester was booked to the Sedgwick County Jail on requested charges of aggravated battery, aggravated assault, and aggravated kidnapping, according to Macy. It is believed that drugs were a factor. Kester has previous convictions for burglary, theft, criminal damage to property and criminal possession of a firearm, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.