In the late afternoon of January 9, 2017, a burst of violence shattered the calm at the intersection of 18th and Market Streets in Wichita, Kansas, claiming the life of 24-year-old Hispanic male Bernardino Ornelas, known to his loved ones as "Bernie." Ornelas was behind the wheel of his car, with his 25-year-old cousin, Andrew Ornelas, in the passenger seat, when another vehicle, described as an orange or red Chevrolet Avalanche, pulled alongside them.
Without warning, gunfire erupted from the Avalanche, striking both men. The brazen attack left Bernardino Ornelas fatally wounded, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. His cousin Andrew was critically injured and rushed to a local hospital for treatment. The shooting was the first homicide of the year for the city of Wichita and was described by police as a targeted incident, not a random act of violence.
The investigation into the shooting led Wichita police to a suspect, Joseph Xavier Moncada-Urbina, who was 24 years old at the time of his arrest. He was taken into custody and faced a slew of serious charges, including first-degree murder, aggravated battery, and criminal discharge of a firearm. Authorities also located the Chevrolet Avalanche they believed was connected to the crime. Despite the arrest of Moncada-Urbina, the case has remained a source of pain and unanswered questions for the Ornelas family, as it is still considered an unsolved case by the Wichita Police Department's Cold Case Unit.
Bernardino Ornelas was remembered as a cherished son, brother, and father. His sudden and violent death left a void in the lives of his family, including his young daughter. The community mourned the loss of a young life cut short, and law enforcement continues to seek any information that might bring a final resolution to the case and deliver justice for Bernardino and his family.
