Costello Reed Jr., a 41-year-old Black/African American male, found his life tragically cut short in the early morning hours of Saturday, October 24, 2020. The night began like many others at the Apple Lounge, a club located in the 3200 block of North Broadway in Wichita, Kansas. The establishment was filled with people, including Reed's own friends and family.
An air of socializing and weekend revelry filled the space before it was shattered by sudden violence.
A disturbance broke out inside the club involving an unknown individual. In the midst of this turmoil, a single gunshot echoed through the lounge. When the chaos momentarily subsided, Costello Reed was found suffering from a gunshot wound to his upper body. Emergency services were called to the scene at approximately 2:00 a.m., and Reed was rushed to a local hospital. Despite the efforts of medical personnel, he succumbed to his injury.
Wichita Police Department detectives began an immediate investigation, determining that the shooting was not a random act of violence. The suspect, however, remained unidentified. According to police reports, a suspect walked up to Reed during a party and shot him once. Although numerous witnesses were present at the time of the shooting, their cooperation with law enforcement was limited, hampering the initial stages of the investigation.
In the years that have followed, no arrests have been made in connection with Costello Reed's death. The case remains open and has been turned over to the Wichita Police Department's Cold Case Unit. Detectives continue to seek information from the public, hoping that someone will come forward with the key piece of evidence needed to bring a resolution to the case and provide answers for Reed's grieving family and friends.
