SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man charged in the drive-shooting at a home in Wichita that critically injured an 11-year-old girl has been sentenced to over 14-years in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney. In October, Purcell pleaded guilty to aggravated battery in the case.
Just after 12:30 a.m. Oct. 12, 2021 officers responded to a shooting in the 1400 block of North Harding in Wichita. They found the girl laying in her bed with a gunshot wound. On Oct. 14., police arrested Purcell and originally charged him with aggravated battery, criminal discharge of a firearm and criminal possession of a weapon by a felon.
Police reported an 11-year-old girl was in the house and asleep in her bed when she was hit by the gunfire. She was taken to a hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening. Police say four other people in the home at the time of the shooting were not injured.
Since Nov. 2017 Purcell was in one of several Kansas prisons following three convictions for aggravated robbery. The state also reported Purcell had over two dozen disciplinary violation during his time in prison. He was released in June, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.