Three suspects are in custody in connection with a shooting that occurred Tuesday night at 10th Street and Patton Road.
Two adults – Ismael Montelongo, age 20, and Noah Holden, age 19 – and one juvenile were booked into the Barton County Jail on Wednesday on charges of attempted second-degree murder.
The search for the suspects began, according to Great Bend Police Department reports, at approximately 10:40 p.m. Tuesday, when GBPD officers were dispatched to the 5600 block of 10th St. in reference to a shooting. Upon arrival, officers located Richard Fletcher Jr., age 23, with a gunshot wound to the abdomen. Fletcher was transported to The University of Kansas Health Systems - Great Bend Campus, and later flown to Wichita with critical injuries.
Police Chief David Bailey said the shooting occurred a few minutes earlier when people in two northbound vehicles confronted each other at the intersection.
Based on information obtained through their investigation, GBPD identified Montelonger and Holden as two persons of interest in the case. They were seen following the shooting driving west from the intersection of 10th St. and Patton Road in a tan 2003 GMC Yukon.
The victim turned east and pulled into a parking lot, which officers were dispatched to.
Prior to their arrests, police warned the public that Montelongo and Holden were being sought on charges that included attempted second-degree murder and that they should be considered armed and dangerous.
On Wednesday, GBPD officers and detectives responded to an address in the 1500 block of Hubbard Street after receiving information of a possible location where the suspects might be hiding. They arrested Montelongo, Holden and the juvenile, whose name was not released, without incident. All three were transported to the Barton County Jail and booked in lieu of bond. The juvenile was then released to Juvenile Services.
Shortly after the arrests were made, GBPD detectives contacted the BCSO about a possible location of the 2003 GMC Yukon. It was located near an abandoned structure and impounded as evidence.
The Barton County Sheriff’s Office, Kansas Highway Patrol and Great Bend Fire & EMS departments assisted GBPD in the case, which is still under investigation. Anyone with information regarding this crime, or any other crime, is asked to contact the Great Bend Police Department by calling 620-793-4120, or Crime Stoppers at 620-792-1300.
