On Saturday, July 18, at approximately 11:51 p.m., Great Bend Police Department officers were dispatched to Veteran's Memorial Park located at 4714 17th Street Terrace in reference to a shooting that occurred at that location.
Upon arrival, officers received witness reports advising that a Dodge 4-door passenger car, occupied by two adults and two 17 year-old passengers were driving through Veteran's Memorial Park when confronted by a blue SUV occupied by Ashten M. Tracy, age 18; Miguel A. Gonzalez Jr., age 20 and a 15 year-old passenger.
While the Dodge 4-door passenger car was traveling south through the Park, witnesses report the blue SUV pulling over and blocking the roadway near 17th Street Terrace. The witnesses reported the Dodge 4-door passenger car traveled through the grass along the midway to make an attempt to exit the Park onto 17th Street Terrace. Witnesses report that as the Dodge 4-door passenger car traveled southeast and began to turn onto 17th Street Terrace, Gonzalez Jr. exited the blue SUV and fired a single shot into the Dodge passenger car, striking one of the 17 year-old occupants sitting in the back seat of the vehicle.
The 17 year-old victim was transported to the University of Kansas Medical Health Systems Emergency Room where he was treated for a life-threatening gunshot wound. The 17 year-old victim was later life-watched to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas and remains in critical condition.
On Sunday, July 19, at approximately 8 p.m., Gonzalez Jr. was arrested on charges of attempted murder and Tracy was arrested on charges of accessory to attempted murder, obstruction, and aiding and abetting an attempted murder. Gonzalez Jr. and Tracy were transported to the Barton County Detention Center and booked in lieu of $250,000 bond.
This investigation is still ongoing. Anyone with any additional information is urged to contact the Great Bend Police Department at 620-793-4120 or Crime Stoppers, at 620-792-1300.