This a follow-up to the Pawnee County Attorney’s Press Release of March 31, 2024
Larned, KS – Michael EG Reynolds, 67 of Larned, made his first appearance Wednesday morning before Pawnee County Magistrate Judge Julie Cowell on a three (3) counts of Felony Criminal Complaint. The defendant is charged with one count of Intentional Murder in the Second Degree, one count of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, and one count of Criminal Possession of a Firearm.
The charges stem from a joint investigation by the Pawnee County Sheriff’s Department, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and Coroner Dr. Lyle Noordhoek.
Just after 5 p.m., on Saturday, March 30, 2024, emergency dispatch was notified of a shooting that had just occurred at 1219 Kansas Highway 19 South, in rural Pawnee County. Upon arrival, emergency personnel discovered that Dr. Tomas Garza, 52 of Larned, had been shot multiple times during an argument with Reynolds. Garza was transported to an area hospital but died of his injuries.
An individual that was with Garza at the time of the incident indicated the firearm in question had also been aimed at them. Reynolds was taken into custody at the scene without incident. It is the State’s position that Reynolds was not legally entitled to possess a firearm on the date in question due to an incident in 2015 involving a firearm.
At the first appearance, Judge Cowell advised the defendant of the charges, the possible penalties if convicted and his constitutional rights, including his right to counsel.
If convicted of the murder charge, under the Kansas Sentencing Guidelines the defendant faces between 147 months and 653 months in the custody of the Department of Corrections depending on his criminal history. Counsel was appointed to represent the defendant and a preliminary hearing was scheduled for April 16, 2024 at 1 p.m.
The Court granted the State’s request that the defendant be held without bond due to community safety concerns. Reynolds remains in custody at the Pawnee County Jail.