WICHITA — An off-duty Great Bend Police officer is credited with assisting Wichita law enforcement officers responding to a shooting on Friday at Towne East Mall in Wichita. Two juveniles were injured and three others are in custody.
GBPD School Resource Officer Paul Millard was off-duty and shopping in Wichita when he witnessed an armed assault in progress, a media release from the GBPD states. He didn’t hesitate to act.
He detained one suspect as Wichita officers arrived. The suspect was found to be in possession of what appeared to be a rifle-caliber pistol. Officers subsequently took two additional males into custody.
According to a Wichita Police Department media advisory, just after 3:36 p.m. on Aug. 8, police were dispatched to a reported shooting in the mall parking lot.
Investigators discovered that a fight involving five males escalated into gunfire. Two victims were injured: one was shot in the torso and the other in the leg. Officers applied a tourniquet to the leg injury before Sedgwick County EMS arrived.
The victims were on the ground when the primary suspect continued to shoot at them. The primary suspect, age 17, has been arrested for two counts of attempted murder. The two other suspects, both 16 years old, will be booked with disorderly conduct related to fighting.
The two victims, aged 17 and 15, were transported to a nearby hospital, where they were listed in critical but stable condition.
The GBPD statement noted, “Relying on his training and instincts, Officer Millard quickly intervened, helping to stop the threat and ensuring no further injury was caused. His actions reflect the very best of what it means to serve and protect – whether on the clock or not. We are proud to have him as a member of the Great Bend Police Department – and as a dedicated part of our community.” The statement goes on to thank Officer Millard for his bravery and commitment to public safety.
The Kansas Peace Officers Association also praised Millard, for exemplifying “Kansas Law Enforcement at its finest, both on duty and off duty.”
Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan highlighted the dangers of youth access to high-powered weapons, stating, “Once again, we have an incident involving teenagers with a high-powered weapon that resulted in two young people being hospitalized. This was the result of poor decision-making by these teens. Lives were saved due to the quick and decisive actions of the off-duty Great Bend Police officer who happened to be at the scene and the rapid response of Wichita officers, which helped prevent further tragedy. I urge parents to monitor their children’s activities, possessions, and associates. Community involvement is crucial if we are to keep our youth safe and prevent these incidents from occurring.”
This incident remains under active investigation. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Wichita Police Department detectives or Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.
