SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities investigating a 4th of July weekend double murder in rural Kansas are asking the public’s assistance in locating 42-year-old Hieu Trong Luong. He is also known as Sunny, according to Sheriff's Lt. Benjamin Blick.
Just after 5 a.m. Saturday, sheriff's deputies were sent to a shooting call in the 4400 block of south Rock Road in rural Sedgwick County, according to Blick.
At the scene, first responders found 42-year-old David Baeza of Wichita 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. Authorities have not released the name of the man who died.
While processing the scene, investigators found 43-year-old Joseph Ponse Jr. of Wichita. Deputies booked him into the Sedgwick County jail.
Investigators still have individuals they want to interview in connection with the case, according to White. "This was not a random act and drug activity is believed involved." The victims did not live at the location where they were killed.
Ponse and Baeza remain jailed each on a bond of $500,000.