A teenage defendant has formally accepted responsibility in connection with a deadly 2024 shooting at Sim Park in Wichita, a violent encounter that resulted in one death and left another person injured.
Plea Agreement Reached in Wichita Park Homicide
On Thursday, Victor Rivas-Banuelos entered a guilty plea to second-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder. Originally, prosecutors had filed more serious charges, including first-degree murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, and criminal use of a weapon.
By accepting the plea deal, the teen avoided trial on the original charges while still facing significant prison time under Kansas law.
Details of the Sim Park Shooting
Early Morning Confrontation Turns Deadly
The shooting occurred during the early hours of December 14, 2024, near a parking area at Sim Park in Wichita. According to court records, the confrontation stemmed from an arranged fight between two men who were involved in an ongoing dispute.
Planned Fight Escalates
Court documents reveal that 19-year-old David Hernandez-Cervantes had agreed to meet another individual at the park to settle their disagreement physically. However, neither party arrived alone.
- Hernandez-Cervantes was accompanied by a 24-year-old man and two additional individuals.
- The opposing group brought four people, including Rivas-Banuelos.
What began as a one-on-one altercation quickly escalated when others became involved, according to a detective’s affidavit from the Wichita Police Department.
Weapon Used and Shots Fired
Baseball Bat Incident Precedes Gunfire
Investigators stated that during the chaos, the 24-year-old man swung a baseball bat, striking someone from the opposing group.
Moments later, Rivas-Banuelos allegedly fired multiple rounds, dramatically escalating the violence…