SEDGWICK COUNTY — A man charged with second-degree murder in the fatal beating of a homeless man in Wichita was scheduled for sentencing Thursday. The case involving Abel Molina, 34, was delayed until next month, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.
In February of 2022, police responded to a 911 call in the 600 block of N. Seneca in Wichita after a caller reported a person was being beaten on the Seneca Street bridge, according to Officer Trevor Macy.
Officers and EMS responded and located 30-year-old Blake Barnes of Wichita. He was transported to an area hospital in critical condition and later pronounced deceased.
Officers contacted the witness who was able to direct them to a suspect – identified as 64-year-old David Chandler who was reported to have struck Barnes several times with a metal pipe. Police took Chandler into custody while he was walking away from the crime scene.
The witness reported another suspect was also involved but left the scene on a bicycle prior to officers arriving. The second suspect, identified as 31-year-old Abel Molina, was located in the 400 block of N. Seneca, where he was taken into custody.
Sixty-three-year-old David Chandler and Molina, who are also homeless, assaulted 30-year-old Blake Barnes on Feb. 22, 2022 at a bridge near the Mid-America All-Indian Museum near downtown Wichita.
Witnesses reported Barnes was hit several times with a metal pipe, according to police.
SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas jury found 64-year-old David Chandler guilty of second-degree intentional murder for the beating death of a homeless man in Wichita, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.
In February, police responded to a 911 call in the 600 block of N. Seneca in Wichita after a caller reported a person was being beaten on the Seneca Street bridge, according to Officer Trevor Macy.
Officers and EMS responded and located a 30-year-old male victim, identified as Blake Barnes of Wichita. He was transported to an area hospital in critical condition and later pronounced deceased, according to Macy.
Officers contacted the witness who was able to direct them to a suspect – identified as 64-year-old David Chandler who was reported to have struck Barnes several times with a metal pipe.
Police took Chandler into custody while he was walking away from the crime scene..
The witness reported another suspect was also involved but left the scene on a bicycle prior to officers arriving. The second suspect, identified as 31-year-old Abel Molina, was located in the 400 block of N. Seneca, where he was taken into custody.
Chandler has prior drug convictions and Molina has priors that include drug possession, theft, aggravated burglary and DUI, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.
He is scheduled for sentencing Dec. 19, according to the district attorney's office. Monina is due back in court on Nov. 16.