Woman charged with first-degree murder in NE Wichita hit-and-run, shooting

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - Update Tuesday, March 30, 2021: A 31-year-old Wichita woman faces charges including first-degree murder in a March 26 hit-and-run and shooting that killed 54-year-old Merrill Rabus at 13th and Oliver in northeast Wichita. In Sedgwick County District Court Tuesday (March 30), Charity Blackmon heard the charges against her that also include criminal possession of a weapon by a felon. A judge set her bond at $250,000.

Friday, March 26, 2021:

Update: The Wichita Police Department has arrested 31-year-old Charity Blackmon of Wichita on charges of first-degree murder. This is in connection to the death of 54-year-old Merrill Rabus.

At around 4:25 p.m. Friday, officers were dispatched to 13th Street North and Oliver Avenue for a shooting call. Upon arriving, they located Rabus unconscious and receiving life-saving measures after being shot. He was transported to a hospital where he later died from his injuries.

Police say Rabus was on his bicycle at the intersection when he was struck by a white Plymouth van driven by Blackmon. Blackmon then got out her vehicle and shot Rabus. Blackmon fled the scene and was followed by witnesses who provided her location. She was located and arrested at 14th Street North and Green Street by a Wichita State University police officer. Blackmon and Rabus did not know each other.

Officers also recovered a handgun through this investigation.

The investigation is ongoing, and the case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - Update: A man died from his injuries following a hit-and-run and a shooting reported Friday afternoon (March 26) in northeast Wichita. A little before 4:30 p.m., Wichita Police Chief Gordon Ramsay said officers responded to a reported shooting at 13th and Oliver. There were also reports of a hit-and-run.

When officers arrived, they found a man on the ground. Ramsay said the man was on his bike, pedaling across the intersection when a vehicle hit him. The driver of that vehicle then fired a shot at the man.

Police found the driver, a woman living in the area, and arrested her, Ramsay said. The chief said there was an altercation between the man and the driver, but it was unclear what led to the crime. About an hour after the incident, Ramsay said it was also unclear if the man died from being hit by the vehicle or if the shot fatally wounded him.

Witnesses helped to provide information for police and helped officers find the woman arrested in the case.

“It was chaotic.. There were a lot of 911 calls,” Ramsay said.

He said investigators were interviewing “a lot of witnesses” and sifting through reports. Once police are able to piece together what happened and unveil further details in this case, we’ll relay updates as soon as they’re released.

Friday afternoon: One person is injured in a Friday-afternoon shooting in northeast Wichita. This was reported a little before 4:30 p.m. at 13th and Oliver.

Eyewitness News sent a crew to gather further information including the extent of injuries to the person shot, possible suspect information and whether police have made an arrest in the case.