A 64-year-old man has been sentenced to 19 years in prison for killing a Wichita man during a robbery at a north-side motel last year.
Kevin L. Harris pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter in the Aug. 21, 2023, shooting death of 50-year-old Jose Lumbreras Sr. at the Auto Motel, 1230 N. Broadway in Wichita. Court records say Harris targeted Lumbreras because he carried cash and that the robbery was a set up, part of a plan to recoup money from a woman who had stolen some drugs that Harris was selling. The woman also knew Lumbreras and told Harris he could get enough money to pay off her debt by robbing him.
Harris told police he shot Lumbreras three times after Lumbreras lunged at him when he entered a motel room with a gun, court records say. Lumbreras died after stumbling out to the motel parking lot. His wallet was missing.
Authorities later arrested Harris in Lawrence, his hometown.
Harris was sentenced by Sedgwick County District Judge Jeffrey Goering on Sept. 12. Originally, prosecutors charged Harris with first-degree premeditated murder but amended the count to voluntary manslaughter when he pleaded on April 9.