KWCH - Kansas News and Weather - Police Identify Mother in Double Shooting

Police Identify Mother in Double Shooting

Update: Police still aren't sure why Carolyn Richardson opened fire at her home in Wichita Wednesday.  Investigators say her 16-year-old son had just woken up and started arguing with her.

She then shot him as he left the home.  During the commotion, Richardson's 20-year-old son woke up.  He was also shot while trying to leave. 

Police say the two are expected to recover.

Stay with Eyewitness News for any updates as they become available.

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by Cliff Judy (WICHITA, Kan.)

A Wichita woman shot her two sons Wednesday morning before turning the gun on herself.  Officers were called to the 300 block of N. Volutsia around 8:30 a.m.

The 16-year-old and 20-year-old victims are expected to survive after being shot in the back and neck.  Police say the whole incident started with an argument and escalated.

The sons ran to a neighbor's house for help, but the woman stayed in her house.  Police blocked off the neighborhood, and SWAT team members fired gas cannisters and flash grenades into the house more than two hours after the shooting.

Officers found the woman dead inside from a gunshot wound they say was likely self-inflicted.

Neighbors who first saw the victims say they were dazed, confused, and looking for help.

"He was knocking on the door and his opposite arm and neck was red," says Bryce Balton, who was walking to his girlfriend's house when he spotted one of the victims.  "His arm was kind of like limp."

Balton says a woman inside the house began shouting one of her sons' names.

Police evacuated much of the block shortly after arriving on scene.  Neighbors say they were surprised to look out their front windows and see officers with guns drawn in their front lawns.

Some family members of the victims stopped by the house throughout the afternoon, clearly distraught.  One family member said she was too shocked to put the day's events into words.

The victims are expected to be okay.  Police say they are stable, and family members say they both went into surgery Wednesday afternoon.

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Update: 2:00 pm - Police expect the two victims to survive.

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Update: 11:18 am - Police say a woman suspected of shooting her two sons is now dead.  Police tell Eyewitness News the woman was dead when they went into the home she was holed up in since shortly after the shooting.  It appears she died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

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Update: Standoff is now over. SWAT Team members were walking away from the home.  An ambulance has left the scene, but there's no word on why.  Officials will talk with media shortly. Look for updates as they become available.

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SWAT team is now on the scene of the double-shooting.  Police have blocked off 2nd Street near the scene.

Eyewitness News reporter Cliff Judy spoke to a woman who runs a daycare across the street from the scene.  She says she saw police running this morning with guns drawn, then soon afterward officers told her she should leave her home.

Look for new information as it becomes available.

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By Megahn Snyder (WICHITA, Kan.)

Wichita police are on the scene of a double shooting.  The victims are 20 and 16 years old. Police say the suspect is their mom.

Emergency crews took both victims to the hospital in critical condition.

The shooting happened just before 8:30 Wednesday morning in the 300 block of N. Volutsia.

Map of Scene

A Sedgwick County dispatcher says police are still looking for the suspect. She may be in a neighboring house.

We have a crew headed to the scene. Expect more on this developing story on air and online at KWCH.com as new information comes in.