SEDGWICK COUNTY — Two men arrested for their involvement in a July 4th weekend double murder made their first court appearance in the case July 8. The search for a third suspect continues.
David Baeza, 42 of Wichita, is charged with two counts of voluntary manslaughter. Joseph Ponse, 43 of Wichita, is charged with attempted 1st degree murder.
Police are asking the public’s assistance in locating 42-year-old Hieu Trong Luong in connection with the double murder. He is also known as Sunny.
Just after 5 a.m. Saturday, sheriff's deputies were sent to a shooting call in the 4400 block of south Rock Road in rural Sedgwick County, according to Lt. Benjamin Blick.
At the scene, first responders found 42-year-old David Baeza of Wichita on the side of the road suffering from gunshot wounds, according to Colonel Brian White with the sheriff's department. EMS transported Baeza to an area hospital for treatment and later arrested him.
During an additional search of the rural property, deputies found a man and woman deceased in the backyard of a residence the 4300 block of South Rock Road. They died from apparent gunshot wounds. The woman was later identified as 43-year-old Saren Negrete-Perez of California.
While processing the scene, investigators found 43-year-old Joseph Ponse Jr. of Wichita. Deputies booked him into the Sedgwick County jail. The victims did not live at the location where they were killed.
Ponse and Baeza remain jailed each on a bond of $500,000. They are due back in court on July 18, according to the district attorney's office.