A Father's Day celebration in a north Wichita neighborhood took a tragic turn, ending in the death of 28-year-old Hispanic male, Aron Lara. On the evening of June 16, 2024, Lara was at a barbecue in the 1900 block of N. Jackson Street when a verbal altercation erupted between him and another man. The dispute escalated, leading to a fatal shooting that shattered the festive gathering.
The argument reportedly began between Lara and 33-year-old Eric Gonzalez-Gutierrez.
Following the disagreement, Gonzalez-Gutierrez allegedly left the party, went to his home to retrieve a rifle, and then returned to the barbecue. Witnesses stated that Gonzalez-Gutierrez then opened fire, striking an unarmed Lara multiple times. Police were called to the scene at approximately 8:35 p.m. regarding a disturbance, and the 911 dispatcher reported hearing gunfire in the background during the call. Upon arrival, officers found Lara with multiple gunshot wounds. He was rushed to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries during surgery and was pronounced dead at 10:26 p.m.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, two individuals who were with Lara are believed to have returned fire. This exchange of gunfire resulted in a 22-year-old man sustaining a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to his arm. He was taken to the hospital in stable condition. Investigators at the scene recovered 26 shell casings of various calibers from different homes and vehicles, indicating a significant exchange of gunfire.
Wichita police arrested Eric Gonzalez-Gutierrez on suspicion of first-degree murder the following day. He was subsequently charged with premeditated first-degree murder and criminal possession of a firearm by a felon. After his arrest, Gonzalez-Gutierrez was released on bond with the condition of wearing an ankle monitor. However, he later violated the terms of his pre-trial release by cutting off the monitoring device, prompting a search by law enforcement. The investigation into the incident, including the identities and involvement of the two individuals who returned fire, remains ongoing.
