SEDGWICK COUNTY— A third suspect arrested in connection with the July 4th weekend double murder made his first court appearance in the case.
Just after 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, five days after the authorities asked for help to find him, sheriff deputies located and arrested Luong in east Wichita, according to Sheriff's Lt. Benjamin Blick.
Tips came in and detectives produced other information that led to an apartment complex in the 3700 Block of North Rock Road in Wichita, according to Sheriff Jeff Easter. He was arrested without incident.
Hieu Luong, 42 of Wichita, is charged with attempted 1st degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.
Two other suspects have already been charged. 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.
Just after 5 a.m. July 3, 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 Baeza 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 Ponse Jr. 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.
Luong is also being held on a $500,000 bond and is scheduled to return to court July 22, according to the district attorney's office.