Topeka sees 15 homicides in 2019

Topeka saw homicides in 10 of 12 months in 2019, but as of Tuesday, the number of slayings in the capital city was down for the second year in a row.

According to the Topeka Police Department, 15 people had lost their lives as a result of homicides as of Tuesday morning, Dec. 31.

The first homicide of 2019 took place on Jan. 9, but the second didn't occur for more than two months, on March 16.

According to information provided by the police department, no homicides were reported in February. Additionally, no homicides had been reported in December as of Tuesday morning.

Topeka saw consecutive days with homicides on June 16 and 17 and again on Oct. 5 and 6.

November proved to be the deadliest month for homicides, with four recorded that month — including three on one day.

Three teenagers were among the city's homicide victims in 2019.

As of Dec. 31, the 15 homicides for 2019 in Topeka were two less than the 17 recorded in 2018, and half as many as the record 30 in 2017.

According to The Topeka Capital-Journal's records, which include information provided by the Topeka Police Department, the following people lost their lives through homicide in 2019 in the capital city:

• Adrian D. Jones, 22, on Jan. 9 in the 700 block of S.W. Taylor.

• Robert M. James, 25, March 16, in the 1100 block of S.W. Hillsdale.

• Dwane Simmons, 23, April 28, in the 1400 block of S.W. 13th.

• Darton A. Fields, 34, May 25, in the 1200 block of S.W. Huntoon.

• Kyong Wood, 69, June 16, in the 1500 block of S.W. Tyler.

• John W. Waller, 36, June 17, in the 700 block of S.W. Wayne.

• Joaquin M. McKinney, 16, July 25, in the 800 block of S.E. 37th.

• Ashley T. Usher, 18, Aug. 17, in the 2200 block of S.E. Ohio.

• Raymond Lee Smith, 41, Sept. 1, in the 1200 block of S.E. 33rd.

• Teddy Kleiner, 45, Oct. 5, in the 500 block of N.E. Paramore.

• Antonio Clark, 37, Oct. 6, in the 1100 block of S.W. Polk.

• Brandi Prchal, 36, Nov. 1, in the 900 block of S.W. Warren.

• Owen M. Hughes, 15, Nov. 12, in the 2400 block of S.E. Maryland.

• Reginald L. McKinney Jr., 21, Nov. 12, in the 2400 block of S.E. Maryland.

• Valerie Taylor, 32, Nov. 12, in the 2000 block of S.E. 12th.

Topeka police Maj. Russ Klumpp on Tuesday said that of the city's 15 homicides in 2019 through Tuesday morning, three cases remain open; eight suspects have been arrested; and four cases were solved and closed without an arrest, including one in which the suspect was killed, one in which the suspect committed suicide and two that were ruled self-defense.

Anyone with information on any of the cases may call Topeka police detectives at 785-368-9400 or Shawnee County Crime Stoppers at 785-234-0007.