SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas man is going to prison for his role in a drug related double-homicide.
On Friday, Judge Kevin Smith sentenced 45-year-old David Baeza of Wichita to 122 months in prison for two counts of voluntary manslaughter and for cocaine possession, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.
In January, Baeza pled guilty for his role in the the July 2022, shooting deaths of 29-year-old Gerardo Ruvalcaba-Ulloa and 43-year-old Saren Perez Negrete.
Just after 5 a.m. July 3, 2022, sheriff's deputies were sent to a shooting call in the 4400 block of south Rock Road in rural Sedgwick County, according to Sheriff's Lt. Benjamin Blick.
During a search of the rural property, deputies found the bodies of Ruvalcaba-Ulloam and Negrete-Perez of California. deceased in the backyard of a residence the 4300 block of South Rock Road. They died from apparent gunshot wounds. The shooting was drug-related, according to the district attorney's office.
At the scene, first responders also 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.
Initially, Baeza and Joseph Ponse, 43 of Wichita were charged with attempted 1st degree murder in connection with the deaths.
Hieu Luong, 42 of Wichita, was also originally 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.
The other two suspects are awaiting sentencing.