SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas felon who admitted his role in a 2023 mass shooting at a nightclub in Wichita's Old Town that left 11 injured is going to prison.
On Friday, Judge Seth Rundle sentenced 29-year-old John Houze to 17 months in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. In July Houze pleaded no contest to criminal possession of a weapon
The other charges were dismissed as part of the plea deal.
Just before 1a.m. July 2, 2023, police responded to the City Nightz Club in the 200 Block of North Washington in Wichita, according to Police Lt. Aaron Moses.
There were nine people with gunshot wounds and two people were trampled during the mass exodus out of the club. No one was killed but one person was critically injured. Police originally arrested a Missouri man as a suspect. He was released from jail after the Sedgwick County District Attorney determined he was acting in self defense.
The investigation indicates there were at least four firearms discharged inside the club. Police also seized an additional four firearms as part of the investigation.
The shooting victims included a 21-year-old man, 26-year-old man, 24-year-old woman, 34-year-old man, 21-year-old woman, 30-year-old man, 24-year-old man. The traumatic injury victims were a 31-year-old woman and a 30-year-old man, according to Moses. Two additional gunshot victims checked into the hospital later.
Eight days after the incident, police arrested Houze in the case. Houze has previous convictions for aggravated battery, fleeing law enforcement, criminal possession of a weapon and for drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.
In December Judge David Dahl sentenced 25-year-old Jaylen Thomas of Wichita to 82 months in prison with 36 months post release for his role in the shooting, according to the Sedgwick County District attorney's office. The judge also ordered restitution to a City Nightz victim of $8,499.89, and $1,000 to City Nightz.
In June of 2024, co-defendant in the crime, 21-year-old Ameir King-Ingram was sentenced to just more than 4-years in prison.
Just before noon Monday police booked 27-year-old John D. Houze on requested charges of of aggravated battery and criminal possession of a firearm by a felon, as well as a Kansas Department of Corrections warrant stemming from the shooting.
King-Ingram-photo Sedgwick Co.
On Friday police booked 19-year-old Ameir King-Ingram in the case on requested charges that include two counts of aggravated battery and one count of criminal possession of a firearm by a felon, according to Rebolledo.
A 31-year-old Missouri man arrested in the case on July 3, was released when the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office determined he fired a weapon in self defense.
Police continue asking the public for help to locate 23-year-old Jaylen Thomas of Wichita for questioning in connection to the incident.
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Thomas-photo Wichita Police
Just before 1a.m. July 2, police responded to the club in the 200 Block of North Washington, according to Police Lt. Aaron Moses.
Police on the scene of the shooting investigation July 2, -photo courtesy KWCH
There were nine people with gunshot wounds and two people were trampled during the mass exodus out of the club. No one was killed but one person was critically injured. Police originally arrested a Missouri man as a suspect. He was released from jail after the Sedgwick County District Attorney determined he was acting in self defense.
The investigation indicates there were at least four firearms discharged inside the club. Police also seized an additional four firearms as part of the investigation.
The shooting victims included a 21-year-old man, 26-year-old man, 24-year-old woman, 34-year-old man, 21-year-old woman, 30-year-old man, 24-year-old man. The traumatic injury victims were a 31-year-old woman and a 30-year-old man, according to Moses. Two additional gunshot victims checked into the hospital later Sunday.
King-Ingram is being held on requested charges that include two counts of aggravated battery and one count of criminal possession of a firearm by a felon, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.