Deadly shooting at Cowley State Fishing Lake ruled homicide

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COWLEY COUNTY, Kan. (KWCH) – Update: The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), and the Cowley County Sheriff’s Office are investigating a homicide that took place Wednesday night at the Cowley State Fishing Lake.

Just after 6 p.m. Wednesday night, the Cowley County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call about a shooting at the Cowley State Fishing Lake. Deputies responded and conducted an extensive search with the caller to find the victim.

Around 8 p.m., they discovered 37-year-old Joel Leon-Santos, of Arkansas City, who was suffering from gunshot wounds. Sheriff’s deputies and troopers from the Kansas Highway Patrol attempted life-saving measures but Leon-Santos died from his injuries. The coroner pronounced him dead at the scene.

Anyone with information related to this case is urged to call the KBI at 1-800-KS-CRIME. Tips can also be submitted anonymously online at: https://www.kbi.ks.gov/sar.

The Cowley County Sheriff confirms an investigation is underway into a death at the Cowley State Fishing Lake, east of Arkansas City. Cowley County Sheriff David Falletti said there were reports of gunshots in the area, but as of late Wednesday night could not confirm if there was a shooting.

Sheriff Falletti said the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Kansas Highway Patrol are assisting at the scene and the area is blocked off in the early stages of the investigation. Falletti said the sheriff’s office will provide further information to relay to the public once the investigation solidifies details into what happened.