WICHITA — A 47-year-old Wichita man is scheduled to appear in a Sedgwick County courtroom Thursday to learn his fate following the shooting of a teenager in a Goddard Walmart parking lot last year.
Ruben Contreras is set for sentencing before Judge Quinton Pittman. In November, a jury found Contreras guilty of aggravated battery, a lesser charge than the attempted first-degree murder count he originally faced.
Details of the Incident
The conviction stems from an incident on the afternoon of May 11, 2024. According to the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called to the Walmart at 18631 W. Kellogg after reports of a shooting.
Upon arrival, first responders discovered 18-year-old Anakin Zehring inside a vehicle suffering from a gunshot wound. Court documents reveal the confrontation began when Zehring and a group of friends were playing with a toy gel blaster in the parking lot.
The investigation found that:
- A gel bead hit a young girl in the parking lot.
- The girl called her father, Contreras, to the scene.
- Upon arrival, Contreras shot Zehring.
Recovery and Legal Proceedings
Zehring was initially transported to a local hospital in serious condition. According to an online fundraiser, he has undergone a lengthy recovery process and was recently receiving treatment at a specialized facility in Nebraska.
Contreras, who remained at the scene and was taken into custody immediately following the shooting, had previously pleaded not guilty in July. He is currently out of jail after meeting the conditions of a $300,000 bond.
