Suspect In Kansas Nightclub Shooting That Killed 1, Injured 5 Arrested In Arizona

The man suspected to be responsible for the deadly shooting at a nightclub in Sedgwick County, Kansas, last month was finally arrested Friday.

Keshawn Maurice Dawson, 23, is accused of killing one man and wounding five women at the Enigma Club & Lounge in downtown Wichita on Sept. 7.

He was taken into custody in Phoenix, Arizona, with some assistance from the U.S. Marshal’s Service, the Associated Press reported, citing a Wichita Police Department news release.

Dawson, who was wanted for murder and other charges, will be extradited back to Sedgwick County, The Wichita Eagle reported.

Prior to the shooting, Dawson got into a fight inside the nightclub and was kicked out by club employees, police said.

Detectives alleged that Dawson returned a short time later and opened fire with a handgun from the sidewalk through the club's front door and windows.

Preston Spencer, 34, a bartender, shielded his pregnant cousin with his body when shots were fired. He was struck in the torso and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Five women ranging in age from 22 to 40 were found with gunshot wounds, the Associated Press previously reported.

After opening fire, Dawson allegedly fled in a dark-colored vehicle driven by someone else, police said.

At the time of the shooting, Dawson was wanted on two felony arrest warrants and was a convicted felon prohibited by law from owning a gun.

Prior to the suspect's arrest, Keena Charles with the Violence Impact Community Integration Program spoke about how the shooting impacted the victims' families. She said their lives will never be the same, KSNT reported.

“For that family, for the community, it is a lifetime,” she said. “We need your help. We need to find better ways to resolve conflict. That moment of power when that weapon is in your hand, when you don’t realize that you are taking away someone’s daughter, someone’s son, a mother, a father, you hurt this community, because broken individuals are walking around every day because of the pain of violence.”

Wichita Vice Mayor Brandon Johnson echoed her sentiments. “That’s something that I would encourage everyone to think about,” he said. “Anyone that ever might be in the moment and allow temporary emotion to make a permanent decision, to think about those who will be impacted, not just the families who lose folks, and that’s tragic as it is, but even those who are impacted by being around and being in attendance.”