Shots fired in parking lot

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Sep 22, 2008 by Phil Anderson

By Phil Anderson

THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

Topeka police on Sunday night were investigating a report of gunshots fired in a parking lot on the east side of the 1700 block of S.W. Wanamaker.

About 8:15 p.m., officers responded to a parking lot north and east of Perkins restaurant, where witnesses told police they heard several gunshots.

By 9 p.m., officers had recovered one spent shell casing in a parking area about 50 yards north and east of Perkins.

Police Sgt. Jack Mackey said witnesses told officers occupants of three cars were involved in a "verbal altercation" that preceded the shooting.

The incident apparently began in an open parking lot north and west of a K-mart store and south across S.W. 17th from an Applebee's restaurant, police said.

The disturbance escalated and the three vehicles proceeded west, closer to S.W. Wanamaker.

Witnesses told police between six and eight people got out of the three vehicles.

Mackey said one of the people in the disturbance produced a weapon and fired it.

Those who had been arguing then got back in their vehicles and left the lot. Witnesses told police each vehicle -- a truck, a car and a sport utility vehicle -- left in a different direction.

Mackey said it wasn't known whether anyone was wounded.

No damage to other vehicles in the lot was observed, Mackey said.

Police notified local hospitals of the incident in case anyone arrived in an emergency room suffering from a gunshot wound.

Mackey noted the danger involved in someone opening fire in the parking lot, as people were eating in nearby restaurants and traffic was steady on nearby streets.

Phil Anderson can be reached

at (785) 295-1195

or phil.anderson@cjonline.com.