In the early morning hours of November 30, 2019, a dispute over a small amount of marijuana tragically escalated, ending the life of 24-year-old John Buess-Wheeler, a Caucasian male from Augusta, Kansas. The night began with a gathering at a Wichita apartment located at 1212 S. Main, where Buess-Wheeler and a friend were visiting two women and the apartment's resident, 20-year-old Carver Khalid Soliman. The group spent time listening to music, drinking alcohol, and smoking marijuana.
A small transaction occurred where Soliman sold Buess-Wheeler $20 worth of marijuana.
After Buess-Wheeler and his companion left the apartment, Soliman noticed that an ounce of his marijuana was missing. He became upset and had one of the women contact Buess-Wheeler and his friend, asking them to return. When they arrived back at the apartment, an argument erupted. Soliman accused Buess-Wheeler of stealing the marijuana, a claim which Buess-Wheeler and his friend denied. The confrontation intensified, with Buess-Wheeler in turn accusing Soliman of taking 9 mm bullets from his jacket.
The verbal argument soon turned physical, with Soliman admitting to initiating a shoving match. As the altercation continued, Buess-Wheeler reportedly moved to push Soliman again. At this point, Soliman retrieved his. 45 caliber handgun, took the safety off, and fired two shots at Buess-Wheeler, striking him in the chest. As Buess-Wheeler attempted to flee, he collapsed near the doorway. Another man who was with Buess-Wheeler was also shot, sustaining a wound to his lower right arm.
Following the shooting, it was Carver Soliman himself who called 911. He informed the dispatcher that some people had come to his apartment to purchase marijuana, had "rushed him," and that he had shot them. When Wichita police officers arrived at the scene, Soliman immediately identified himself as the shooter. Buess-Wheeler was transported to Ascension Via Christi St. Francis Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 6:09 a.m. from the gunshot wound. Soliman was arrested and later charged with second-degree intentional murder, aggravated battery, and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.
