Wichita, KS: Document describes shooting that left man dead
A car chase followed by a racial slur led to a fatal shooting on May 28 after an argument that began over dog feces, according to newly released court documents.
Roger Gale, 27, of Wichita, was charged on June 2 with first-degree murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in connection with a shooting that killed Emmanuel Hardy, 30, of Wichita.
An affidavit released by Sedgwick County District Court provides new details of the case. The following is an account of the case according to court documents.
A woman, who says she was dating Hardy at the time, said she and Hardy were on a date on May 28 where they first met at Hardy’s mother’s house. They drove to a QuikTrip on South Oliver in his silver BMW, then drove to the woman’s house.
Once home, the woman and Hardy had a conversation with Gale and another woman outside her home about Gale picking up her dog’s feces. Hardy and the wife then got into the BMW and drove off.
Gale, upset after meeting Hardy and the woman, took his dog home. Gale then climbed into the passenger seat of a 1998 Chevy Tahoe and told the woman driving the vehicle to follow the BMW.
Hardy and the woman noticed that the SUV was following them too closely. They parked in the parking lot of an apartment complex in the 4900 block of East Harry. The SUV immediately parked next to the passenger side of the BMW. Gale and the woman in the BMW immediately got out of their vehicles and exchanged words, Gale saying “do you remember me?” to the woman. Hardy then got out of the BMW and seconds later gunshots could be heard.
The woman driving the Tahoe said she couldn’t get out of the SUV because the driver’s side door wouldn’t open from the inside.
Other accounts indicate that after Hardy got out of the BMW, Gale pulled out a silver revolver with a black handle and muttered racial slurs at the couple. Hardy pushed the woman out of the way and she started running away. She looked back and saw Hardy with his arms crossed in front of his face, then heard three gunshots. Gale walked back inside the Tahoe and told the woman to “go away”.
Video footage captured by a camera in the apartment complex corroborated by witness statements and shows that Gale chased Hardy around the silver BMW and Tahoe while shooting him.
The Tahoe left the parking lot, went onto Harry Street, then onto I-135 southbound. Hardy’s girlfriend then went looking for him but could only find his cell phone covered in blood. Later, she gave the phone to the police and described the shooter.
Officers responded to the call for fire and eventually found Hardy with multiple gunshot wounds in the apartment complex. He was taken to Wesley Medical Center where he later died.
Police were able to trace the Tahoe’s license plate back to Gale after several interviews with witnesses. Officers were then able to locate the Tahoe in an empty south Wichita parking lot. Officers noted that the rear passenger window of the SUV was covered in cardboard.
The redacted document says police then searched a house and found a Rock Island Model 200 .38 Special Revolver in a bedroom. The gun was loaded and appeared to have fired. He was subjected to additional tests.
Gale’s first court appearance was on June 2. His bond has been set at $500,000 and his next court date is August 4 for a preliminary hearing.