On a Tuesday morning in Wichita, Kansas, the life of 41-year-old Michael Lynn Shelton Sr., a Black/African American male, was tragically cut short. On July 18, 2023, Shelton was on his way to work when he was fatally shot outside his apartment in the 8400 block of East Harry. Responding to a call around 10:40 a.m., officers from the Wichita Police Department discovered Shelton in a hallway with a gunshot wound.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Family members remember Shelton as a man who was actively turning his life around after previous struggles with the law. He had been working as a delivery driver for Pepsi since January of that year and was saving money to buy a semi-truck to start his own business, a legacy he hoped to one day leave for his son, Michael Shelton Jr. His loved ones described his renewed focus on his family and his determination to leave his past behind him. They emphasized that his son was the primary motivation for this positive change in his life.
The investigation into Shelton's death is ongoing, and as of now, no arrests have been made, nor have any suspects been publicly identified. His girlfriend initially suspected a robbery, but police have not confirmed if anything was taken. She believes the shooting was not a random act. The case is now listed among the unsolved homicides being handled by the Wichita Police Department's Cold Case Unit. Authorities have urged anyone with information to come forward and contact detectives or to provide anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers to help bring justice to Michael Lynn Shelton Sr. and his grieving family.
