SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities investigating two suspects new allegations after a victim in the case died.
On Wednesday police reported 37-year-old Kyle E. Higgins of Topeka had died.
Just after 4 a.m. Tuesday, police responded to a reported aggravated robbery of a vehicle near SW 29th and Macvicar Avenue in Topeka, according to police spokesperson Rosie Nichols.
It was reported that the vehicle was stolen by individuals who are known to the vehicle owner and a child was inside. The child was quickly located in the 3200 block of SW Central Park and was taken into police custody.
A short time later, officers located the stolen vehicle near SE 35th and Indiana in Topeka and initiated a traffic stop. The driver fled and initiated a short pursuit, which ended when the vehicle struck a pole near SE 29th and Minnesota where two suspects ran from the crash. Officers then located and took them into custody. Both individuals were transported to a local hospital to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Around 8:30 a.m., police received the report of an unresponsive man, later identified as Higgins, in the 2200 block of SE 29th Street. He was transported to a local hospital where he died. Police investigators believe the two incidents are related.
As a result of the investigation, Lorenzo A. Pattmon III, 21, and Rammelo H. Boatwright, 24, both of Topeka, were arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department. Both are now are being held on updated requested charges that include murder, of Aggravated Kidnapping, Aggravated Robbery and Aggravated Child Endangerment.
The incident is the city’s 13th homicide investigation of 2024.