SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man is going to prison for the shooting death of a security guard outside a convenience store.
On Friday, a judge sentenced 44-year-old Laroy West to life in prison without the eligibility of parole for 50 years, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.
In October, a jury found West guilty of first-degree murder, aggravated assault and criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, according to the District Attorney’s office. In June of 2021 West had to undergo a mental competency examination as part of the investigation.
Just after 10p.m. May 5, 2021 police responded to report of a shooting near the QuikTrip convience store at Broadway and Murdoch in Wichita, according to Police Captain Jason Stephens.
At the scene, officers located 39-year-old Will Robinson, the Quick Trip security guard, in the alley across from the business with a gunshot wound to his upper body.
EMS transported him to a local hospital where he died two days later, according to Officer Charley Davidson.
Investigators learned Robinson encountered West who was causing a disruption inside the store. He escorted the man from the store and ultimately to the edge of the property where the disturbance continued and West shot him.
Robinson had worked as a security guard at QuikTrip for about a year. Before that he was a Wichita police officer. He was a married father of two children. QuikTrip, in a statement, said it was “absolutely devastated and heartbroken by the tragic loss of Will.”