Shoot-out at the Old Town corral?

With a nightclub entertainment district, some brawls and rowdiness come with the territory. But the gun battle in Old Town over the weekend resembled the shoot-out at the OK Corral. A man shot four times in the air and then leveled his gun at police officers, who responded by firing 18 shots at him.
No one was hurt, and a suspect was later arrested, but the area’s image as a safe nightspot might have taken a hit.
As police stressed, this incident was an “anomaly,” and Old Town remains a safe place, but it’s important that area merchants and police work together to identify problems and create a safe atmosphere. For visitors, perception is as important as reality.
Posted by Randy Scholfield

15 Comments

  1. Pancho Villa
    Posted February 1, 2006 at 1:14 am | Permalink

    18 shots all missed? it seems that the police need some target pratice.

  2. writerdog
    Posted February 1, 2006 at 2:29 am | Permalink

    Back in the early eighties the criminals had a saying: The WPD would whip your azzzzzs but you are safe as long as they just shoot at you. By stand still when the Sedgwick County Sheriff said stop…They can drop you dead with one bullet!

  3. Hank Price
    Posted February 1, 2006 at 7:37 am | Permalink

    Forty shots rang outand forty people fell.Cow Patty and the stranger missed each other,but they shot that town to Hell!

  4. Joe Williams
    Posted February 1, 2006 at 7:51 am | Permalink

    I bet if there were strip clubs in Old Town, this wouldn’t have happened. ;)

  5. writerdog
    Posted February 1, 2006 at 8:04 am | Permalink

    Joe their having enough problems with people urinating in the dark corners! LoL Yeah a strip club would add some real class!

  6. Mr. Turner
    Posted February 1, 2006 at 8:07 am | Permalink

    Ask Matt Clay, the only way they can shoot you is if your seatbelted in your car.

  7. Steven E.
    Posted February 1, 2006 at 8:54 am | Permalink

    Oh Randy,Stop wetting your pants. Nobody has ever died from the “perception” of a bullet!

  8. Todd
    Posted February 1, 2006 at 9:15 am | Permalink

    How can this be? Bob Lutz and his crew of harpies on his blog assured me that Old Town is a great environment for the family.

  9. Ian Santiago
    Posted February 1, 2006 at 11:50 am | Permalink

    Ah, the joys of a multiracial society.

    V.L.R.B!!!

  10. anonymous
    Posted February 1, 2006 at 5:11 pm | Permalink

    Early in the morning in the middle of night,Two dead men got up to fight,Back to back, they faced each other,Drew their swords and shot each other.Now if you don’t believe my lie,Ask the blind man, he saw it all!

  11. Ray Thomas
    Posted February 1, 2006 at 5:16 pm | Permalink

    Ahh yes..family entertainment at its best. Public urination, shootings, but at least we have been “protected” from (gasp) nudity in Old Town.

  12. justoneman
    Posted February 2, 2006 at 1:35 pm | Permalink

    Boy Howdy!! It sure is a good thing that Wichita is so dead set against having a casino. It wouldn’t be safe to go there. Especially if it was in the cities entertainment center (a.k.a.), Old Town and all it has to offer.

  13. Ian Santiago
    Posted February 2, 2006 at 1:40 pm | Permalink

    Wichita is need of some Jim Crow.

    Viva la Raza Blanco!!

  14. Pancho Villa
    Posted February 6, 2006 at 10:46 am | Permalink

    The Matt Clay incident brings up an interesting off topic point. A conceled gun law is in the works in Topeka. IF the police will gun you down if they see a gun how they react to all of the hidden guns people have? Im more afraid of the police than crooks. Also if a confused cop tries to gun you down and missed are you allowed to return fire? Somehow I doubt that the DA will be as forgiving as she is with the police everytime they shoot someone in the back or while their seatbelted in their car

  15. Mr. Turner
    Posted February 6, 2006 at 12:47 pm | Permalink

    Only the police are allowed to accidentally shoot someone and get away with it.