Wichita is grieving after 33-year-old Lee Banks was shot and killed Tuesday afternoon inside an apartment building at 916 N. Broadway. What began as a disturbance call ended in heartbreak for a family now forced to plan a funeral instead of tomorrow.
Officers with the Wichita Police Department responded around 4:16 p.m. on March 3, 2026, after reports of gunfire inside the building. When they arrived, they found Banks suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to his upper and lower body. Police immediately began life-saving measures, working to stabilize him until emergency medical crews arrived.
Banks was transported to a local hospital in serious condition. Despite those efforts, he later died from his injuries. The news spread quickly, leaving neighbors shaken and loved ones in disbelief.
Police detained a 37-year-old man at the scene. According to investigators, the shooting followed a physical altercation between Banks and the suspect. Detectives interviewed the man and later released him. The case will now be forwarded to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office to determine whether charges will be filed
For those who knew Banks, the details of the investigation matter, but the loss cuts deeper. Friends and family describe him as a valued member of the community, someone whose presence will be deeply missed. His death has left a quiet ache in the hearts of people who saw him as more than a name in a police report.
Authorities say the investigation remains ongoing. Detectives continue to gather evidence and speak with witnesses to understand exactly what unfolded inside the apartment building that afternoon.
Police are asking anyone with information to come forward and contact the Wichita Police Department. As the legal process moves ahead, the community pauses to remember Lee Banks — a life taken too soon, and a loss that now lingers over North Broadway.
