Kansas Klips

Kansas boy shoots himself in the face with flare gun

SEDGWICK COUNTY— Just before 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 26th, police were called to a report about a five-year-old child who accidentally shot himself in the face with a flare gun while inside a vehicle, according to police spokesmanAndrew Ford. Other children were in the car while his mother was outside talking to the child’s grandmother. Shortly after hearing a loud bang, the mother saw the child exit the vehicle, which had caught fire. The child was hit in the forehead by the flare and suffered a head injury as well as burns. Emergency Medical Services responded quickly, and the child was taken to the hospital with critical injuries. However, he is expected to survive. Police released no additional details. (Hays Post)

Kansas high school student made threat to shoot up school dance

SALINA— On Saturday evening, September 28th, the Salina Police Department became aware of a threat made against Central High School via social media, according to a media release from Salina Police,. An immediate investigation was undertaken that revealed a 16-year-old Central High student made comments about “shooting everyone at this dance.” Further inquiry by officers and school resource officers identified the “dance” to be the Salina Central Homecoming dance. USD 305 and school officials were notified and the juvenile was located by officers away from the school. Police arrested the juvenile for an alleged criminal threat and transported the person to the Saline County Jail with eventual transfer to the Juvenile Detention Center in Junction City. Based on the investigation, there did not appear to be any further threat to the students or staff at Central High, according to Salina Police. (Hays Post)

Arrest and identification made in skeletal remains homicide

WILSON COUNTY—The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), the Neodesha Police Department, and the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office positively identified the man whose skeletal remains were found in rural Wilson County and have made an arrest connected to the case. The victim was identified as Levi Ellis, 39, of Neodesha.An autopsy was conducted on his remains. KBI agents, with assistance from officers with the Neodesha Police Department developed a suspect in the case. An arrest warrant was issued for first-degree murder connected to the death of Levi Ellis. On Tuesday, October 1st, around 1:00 p.m., officers from the BrokenArrow Police Department in Oklahoma arrested Joseph D. Ferraro, 56, of Neodesha, at the Clarion Hotel at 2600 North Aspen Avenue in Broken Arrow. He was booked into the Tulsa County Jail in Tulsa. Extradition will be pursued. The investigation is ongoing. (KBI Media and Releases)

Kansas man hospitalized after teen driver rear-ends swather

PHILLIPS COUNTY—The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Dodge Ram 2500 driven by Louis B. Bohl, 18, Phillipsburg, was eastbound on U. S. 36 approximately two and one-half miles west of U. S. 183 on Monday, September 30th. The pickup rear-ended a swather harvesting farm implement driven by Gail D. Blew, 56, Phillipsburg. After impact, the farm implement turned sideways and struck a guardrail. EMS transported Blew to the Phillips County Hospital. Bohl, who was not wearing a seat belt, had minor injuries and was not transported for treatment, according to the KHP. (Hays Post)

Whooping cough case confirmed at Kansas City area high school

KANSAS CITY—Health officials in Kansas City are working with school officials after a confirmed case of whooping cough/pertussis was confirmed in the Blue Spring School District, according to the Jackson County Public Health Department. Pertussis is a contagious respiratory illness similar to the common cold. However, it can have very serious complications, especially for infants and those with chronic health conditions. The school district is working with county health officials to prevent the spread. Jackson County Health officials have seen increased numbers of cases over the past month. Symptoms include a runny nose, mild cough that gradually worsens, low-grade fever, coughing fits that can cause vomiting or gagging, and a whooping sound during coughing fits. According to the CDC, symptoms typically appear within seven to ten days after exposure. (Hays Post)