Woman was fatally shot by her son-in-law while on phone with 911 dispatchers, sheriff says

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH/Gray News) - A woman is dead after she was allegedly shot and killed by her own son-in-law, according to authorities in Kansas.

Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter said 49-year-old Sharmaine Burke called 911 on Wednesday at around 11:30 p.m. She told dispatchers that her son-in-law was holding her at gunpoint at a home on East 47th Street South in Derby.

Dispatchers then heard three gunshots.

One of those gunshots struck Burke in the head, according to Easter, killing her just moments before her 50th birthday.

Sedgwick County deputies arrived at the home and found Burke dead.

They determined that her 8-year-old grandson was in the home at the time of the shooting, but he was no longer there and likely with the suspect.

The sheriff’s office alerted area law enforcement of the suspect’s vehicle description.

A Butler County deputy located the suspect, later identified as 29-year-old Stephen Rogers, at U.S. Route 54 and Haverhill Road.

Easter said Rogers initially refused to get out of the vehicle, but ultimately surrendered peacefully. The child was also found in the vehicle unharmed.

“I don’t get the amount of gun violence that is taking place in this community at this point, and why someone would choose to take the life of someone who is taking care of his own child and has now left this child parentless,” said Easter.

Lila Aimes, one of Burke’s neighbors, said she was shocked to hear about the shooting.

Aimes also said Burke had moved into the neighborhood only a few weeks ago.

“That’s horrible because, now, that kid’s lost everybody. You know what I mean? He’s lost his mom a year ago. Now, he’s lost his grandma, and then to watch his dad do that to his grandma?” Aimes said. “You don’t think that something like this is going to happen in your area.”

Rogers was booked into the Sedgwick County Jail on charges of first-degree murder and child endangerment.

His 8-year-old son remains in protective custody.

“It’s very frustrating; the gun violence that we’re seeing involving juveniles in this community or affecting the lives of very young children,” the sheriff added.