In the late hours of a September weekend in Manhattan, Kansas, the life of a young Hispanic man, 21-year-old Felix Flores, was tragically cut short. On the evening of Saturday, September 22, 2018, emergency services received a call about an unresponsive person in the 1400 block of Vista Lane. Upon arrival, they discovered Flores suffering from a life-threatening gunshot wound. He was rushed to Via Christi hospital and later flown to Stormont Vail in Topeka for more advanced care.
Despite the efforts of medical professionals, Felix Flores succumbed to his injuries and passed away on Sunday morning, September 23, 2018.
Flores was a man dedicated to a career in law enforcement, a dream he had pursued from a young age. At just 18, he began working for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. In February of 2018, he moved back to Manhattan to be closer to his family and continued on his chosen path, securing a position as a correctional officer with the Geary County Sheriff's Department. His ambition was to become a deputy sheriff. Those who knew him remembered a young man with a constant, contagious smile and a great personality who was deeply family-oriented. His passions included hunting, shooting, and spending quality time with his loved ones.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, the Riley County Police Department launched an investigation into the circumstances of Flores's death. Their work quickly led to a suspect. Gregoria Baez, a 21-year-old woman from Manhattan, was arrested in connection with the fatal shooting. She was taken into custody on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter and was booked into the Riley County Jail. A bond was set at $20,000. The investigation continued as the community mourned the loss of a young man on the cusp of fulfilling his dreams.
