The Great Bend Police Department is continuing its investigation into the Saturday night shooting that left a Great Bend man wounded. As of Monday, no arrests had been made.
“We have a real strong suspect,” Police Chief Cliff Couch said. However, they want to put together as solid of case as possible before taking anyone into custody.
At about 10 p.m. Saturday, GBPD officers responded to an apartment complex in the 3900 block of Forest Avenue in regard to a shooting, a GBPD news release said. When they arrived, they found 35-year-old Phillip Pardo who had suffered a gunshot wound.
Officers determined Pardo had been shot during an altercation in the complex parking lot. However, the shooter had fled the scene before the officers arrived.
Evidence at the scene indicated multiple gunshots were fired during the fight.
Pardo was taken to Great Bend Regional Hospital by Great Bend Fire Department Emergency Medical Service personnel. He was later transported to Wichita and his condition was unknown as of presstime.
Meanwhile, shortly after the report of the gunshot, officers were dispatched to a residence several blocks away from the apartments, the release said. Residents there said they had found two men in their front yard.
Believing the suspects were trying to break into the home, a man in the house went out on the front porch with a gun to confront them. The men ran southeast along the railroad tracks and officers believe that this was related to the shooting call.
As for the two men, Couch said there was probably only on shooter. However, he likely had an accomplice who will face charges as well.
“Such reckless and dangerous behavior is obviously very concerning,” Couch said. “This took place in a residential area and a lot more people could have been hurt.”
Couch said he hopes anyone with information on this case comes forward “so we can bring the suspect to justice and send a strong message that our community won’t tolerate such behavior.”
The Barton County Sheriff’s Office and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation assisted in the investigation.
Those with information can call the GBPD detective unit at 620-793-4120 or Crime Stoppers at 620-792-1300.
