Seems the police have more info but not enought yet. The reader comments make for very good reading as we here in Topeka se ethis as a social problem. I'm proud of our citizens.
Last post tonight so till tomorrow...............
Police seeking information on drive-by:
CJOnline / The Topeka Capital-Journal - Police seeking information on drive-by
By Phil Anderson
The Capital-Journal
Published Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Topeka police on Tuesday continued asking the public for information about a drive-by shooting on Sunday afternoon that left a 25-year-old man dead in the city's Highland Park area.
David T. Wakes, a father of three with another son on the way, was shot and killed at about 3:20 p.m. while in his car in the 2800 block of S.E. Michigan.
Police spokeswoman Kristi Pankratz said it appeared Wakes was fired at from another vehicle which left the area.
Though witnesses have been interviewed, police haven't released a description of the shooter or his car.
"Detectives have been out and about, running leads and getting information," said Sgt. Lance Feyh, of the Topeka Police Department. "We're still doing follow-ups."
Feyh said since the weather was nice on Sunday afternoon, he was hopeful people who were in the vicinity of the shooting would call with any information they may have. Feyh said he encouraged people to call police with information that may seem insignificant as it "could be the piece of the puzzle we're looking for."
Also on Tuesday, Carla Murphy-Crith, who lives in the Kansas City area, announced she was setting up a fund to help Wakes' family with funeral expenses.
"They don't have the funds," Murphy-Crith said. "They're asking for any donation, even $20 — anything."
Murphy-Crith said she was a lifelong friend of Wakes' mother, Debbie Munoz.
Bowser-Johnson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Those wishing to contribute may do so at any Bank of America branch, with checks payable to the David T. Wakes Funeral Contribution Fund.
Wakes was the city's third homicide victim of the year.
• Albert L. Conley, 30, was shot and killed April 12 outside the Mahogany Lounge, 1307 S.W. Huntoon. Police arrested Timothy D. Arterberry, 17, in connection with the death.
• Michael Holley, 24, of Topeka, was shot to death Feb. 23 in his car in the parking lot of the Deep Pockets pool hall, 4310 S.W. 21st. No arrests have been made.
Another homicide that occurred in late January was ruled self-defense by police. That death isn't included in the city's list of homicides for 2008.
Anyone with information on Sunday's shooting may call detectives at (785) 368-9400 or leave an anonymous tip by calling Crime Stoppers at (785) 234-0007.
Phil Anderson can be reached at (785) 295-1195 or
phil.anderson@cjonline.com.
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Reader Comments
-1 Rating Posted by: sassy_mother_of_3 at Apr 30, 2008 at 11:06:33 AM
My heart goes out to the family and his friends. I just don't understand today's society and how they handle their anger and revengefulness. What happened to just being "ticked" off at one another? And if this was a random act......WHY???? God Bless this family and any others that have had to endure this kind of act.
Posted by: T-TownTracker at Apr 30, 2008 at 11:50:13 AM
I doubt it was random. The biggest change in our society is the unwillingness of witnesses. This, like many other social problems, is a result of men not being real men. I might expect a single mother or elderly woman to be reluctant to ID somebody, but a man has no excuse. We have failed to be the heroes in the eyes of the young men, but it's never to late. I pray this victim was one of us and in death he can be seen as a martyr.
-1 Rating Posted by: bigbootie at Apr 30, 2008 at 12:39:03 PM
THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF DAVID T. WAKES WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE ANY FUNERAL CONTRIBUTIONS IN THEIR TIME OF NEED. THE "DAVID T. WAKES FUNERAL CONTRIBUTION FUND" HAS BEEN CREATED AT BANK OF AMERICA, ACCOUNT #5180 0147 0590. YOU CAN CALL OR GO INTO ANY BANK OF AMERICA WITH YOUR DONATION AND APPLY IT TO THE ACCOUNT NUMBER LISTED ABOVE. ANY FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION, NO MATTER HOW GREAT OR SMALL, IS GREATLY APPRECIATED! GOD BLESS!!
Posted by: leine at Apr 30, 2008 at 12:48:38 PM
Whoever is out there and has any info, Please help this family to put this to rest, and be able to grieve without worry. Come on, you know who you are, Do the right thing.
Posted by: heidis at Apr 30, 2008 at 12:49:56 PM
They have a description of the car. Not sure why they are not releasing it to help.
People have every right to fear retribution after helping the police. They worry about their family's safety.
Not saying it is right, but I can't blame them for wanting to keep their kids safe.
-1 Rating Posted by: GBPackers at Apr 30, 2008 at 12:51:35 PM
Yeah, Really. Let's not let a murderer run loose, This idiot shot him 8 times! Enough is Enough! Turn them in!Get these murderers off of our streets!
Posted by: heidis at Apr 30, 2008 at 12:54:49 PM
Like I said, people have been talking. There is a description of the car. They may not want to release it, so that the kid won't flee.
But again, I understand the fear.
+ 1 Rating Posted by: jcanemp at Apr 30, 2008 at 01:00:08 PM
Amen, T-TownTracker: At the very real risk of sounding racist, there is a HUGE problem in some ethnic neighborhoods with reluctance to report crime. Part of the problem is legitimate. That is the fear of reprisal from ruthless murderers and thugs; the ones who commit the crimes. The other is an ongoing national campaign supported and perpetuated by Rap artists and the Hip-Hop community in general. They wear t-shirts on stage reading "Don't Snitch". This philosophy is spread throughout black communities and heralded as the way to protect poor neighborhoods from the white power structure, police in particular. All the "Don't Snitch" attitude does is give gang-bangers, drug dealers, rapists, thugs, and thieves a free pass to terrorize the black neighborhoods with immunity. Until these residents of crime-ridden areas realize they must start assisting law enforcement instead of treating them like occupiers and enemies the crime will just continue and increase. If you are unwilling to "snitch" on murderers and thugs then you are playing right into their hands and deserve all that is guaranteed to eventually come your way.
Posted by: GBPackers at Apr 30, 2008 at 01:12:04 PM
By keeping your Mouths Shut you're only enabling this Coward to keep killing. Who knows, he's probably done this before. A young man was executed, I don't care what he did, what color he was, How poor or wealthy, What side of town he was from. I can tell, from what i've read about him, He will be sadly missed, And his mother loved him. I just hope someone with information to help this family will step forward.
Posted by: GBPackers at Apr 30, 2008 at 01:14:29 PM
You set up roadblocks for drunks, why not for killers. More than likely they keep that pistol pretty close by.
Posted by: GBPackers at Apr 30, 2008 at 01:24:16 PM
There has to be a bigger $$$incentive$$$ for people to talk. It has to be worth the repercussions the informant may face. Maybe there should be a fund for a Reward for David's killer. If there was, immediately following the shooting, a gathering of 50 people, someone knows who it could be, or possibly exactly who done this.
-1 Rating Posted by: heidis at Apr 30, 2008 at 01:59:20 PM
jcanemp- Be careful about dogging the hip hop world, most don't want to hear it. I think the thug mentality has reached our streets as well. I hear kids all the time call their girlfriend a b**** or a h*. I tell them "can i talk to YOUR momma like that?" They think it won't hurt when they get shot (when my kid broke her arm, there was a gangbanger crying about being shot in his rear, saying "i didn't know it really hurt!")
Yes GB there was about 50 people, but most only came out AFTER they heard gunshots.
If nothing else, hopefully these shootings will remind us that we are responsible for the children in this community and need to do something about it. More programs for kids, recruiting at-risk kids into programs that will help them succeed.
More money won't help. Osama has what a billion dollar bounty on his head- and no one, because they are scared-will tell where he's at. Same thing here- scared.
And for those who says it doesn't matter what he did with his life. Resources are being used to catch the guy who did it. Your fellow taxpayers help pay for this. If I decide to drink and drive and kill someone- can I count on you guys to pay my attorney fees and what not? Come on, I'm a victim of racism, poor parenting.....
Food for thought, devil's advocate.
Look at all sides EVERYONE
Posted by: GBPackers at Apr 30, 2008 at 02:10:04 PM
Were all victims of something, So don't go there.
Posted by: jcanemp at Apr 30, 2008 at 02:38:31 PM
Many more good people like Mr. Wakes are going to die until the residents of "rough" or poor neighborhoods wake up and realize they must get active in reporting crime and identifying criminals. Why do you think most crimes occur in those neighborhoods? Because the slimeball criminals know they won't be ratted out and are free to ply their trade! That doesn't happen in my neighborhood. On my block, if you just drive down the street in a strange car or look suspicious, someone calls the cops. My neighbors won't, and don't, tolerate crime or criminals. One day my mother, a seventy year-old woman, came by our house. We weren't home and she was peering in our window. My neighbor across the street, whom I barely knew, walked over to confront her on who she was and why she was there! Only 5% of citizens are criminals. The other 95% are honest hard-working folks. We have the idiot thugs outnumbered 19 to 1! The public has the power to put these bullies away. But until we open our eyes, come forward and speak up, the minority will rule and keep doing their deeds with immunity. You don't want to be a snitch? Then be a crime fighter. Be good citizen. Be a hero. Be a life saver. Turn in the slime who do the crime.
Posted by: CountyDweller at Apr 30, 2008 at 05:32:58 PM
Can I put that donation on my Vision Card?
Posted by: GBPackers at Apr 30, 2008 at 05:33:10 PM
A+ jcanemp!! It's not about "snitching or squealing" It's about prevention of theft and violence, and all of the baggage that come along with , I've worked way too hard in my life to be manhandled by a bunch of punk thugs, So, If you're not part of the solution, Guess what? You're part of the problem.