SEDGWICK COUNTY — A preliminary hearing is scheduled to begin Monday afternoon for an 18-year-old Kansas man accused in a fatal shooting of a 15-year-old due to an alleged social media dispute, according to the Sedgwick County Attorney's office
Police arrested Malick Garrett, Jr. November 7, for a shooting the previous day at a park in the 1400 Block of North Ohio Street in Wichita, according to Captain Brent Allred.
At the scene, police located a 15-year-old later identified as Marion Wheaton who had been shot in his upper body. EMS transported him to a local hospital where he died.
Investigators learned that Wheaton and two teenage friends walked to the area to meet with a 15-year-old boy and other unknown individuals to fight over an ongoing dispute that involved social media, according to Allred. As Wheaton and his friends walked in the area, they were approached by a vehicle. A 15-year-old male and Garrett exited the vehicle. Garrett fired multiple shots from a handgun, striking Wheaton.
Police recovered multiple handguns during the investigation. Garrett is being held on a $200,000 bond charged with 2nd degree murder and outstanding warrants in connection with Wheaton's death.
It was the 24th criminal homicide in Wichita in 2019.