Eighth person arrested in connection with shooting at the Victoria’s Bar

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - An eighth person has been arrested in connection with a shooting at a bar in South Topeka.

The Shawnee Co. Sheriff’s Office announced on its Twitter page the arrest of another person in association with a shooting at the Victoria’s Bar.

The Sheriff’s Office says Brandon M. Gehrke, 31, of Topeka, has a warrant for his arrest and “has been additionally charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and criminal discharge of a firearm.” The Shawnee Co. Dept. of Corrections website states Gehrke was booked into Shawnee Co. Jail on Wednesday, May 24. Gehrke has no bond listed.

Gehrke was arrested in connection to a shooting in the parking lot of Victoria’s Bar on Sunday, May 14, that left one person with gunshot wounds to the head and torso.

Investigators arrived at the scene and found over 75 shell casings in the bar parking lot.

The Shawnee Co. Sheriff’s Office said an unspecified 41-year-old man engaged in a verbal altercation with a group of individuals allegedly associated with the Hell’s Lovers Motorcycle Group.

Then several gunshots were exchanged. During the shooting, authorities determined that a vehicle pulled into the parking lot to pick up a bar employee was hit by gunfire, and the driver was struck. The driver fled the scene.

Officials later found the driver and transported the gunshot victim to a local hospital for treatment, who has since been released.

Seven others previously arrested in connection with the shooting are:

• Leon D. Smith-Love I., 28, of Topeka, has been charged with aggravated assault, criminal possession of a weapon, and criminal discharge of a firearm
• Kathryn R. Hazelwood, 26, of Topeka, has been charged with possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia
• Charles D. Wheat, 42, of Topeka, has been charged with aggravated assault and criminal discharge of a firearm
• Jason M. Blenden Sr., 49, of Topeka, was booked in on an arrest warrant
• Storm M. Morgan, 30, of Meriden, Kan., has been charged with criminal discharge of a firearm
• Shawn M. Ray, 39, of Topeka, has been charged with criminal discharge of a firearm, aggravated assault, and interference with law enforcement
• Caleb L. Conway, 41, of Topeka, booked on a felony arrest warrant

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