Police weren't saying what the argument was about or how many times Hatter was shot. While at the scene, police were called to a nearby Kwik Shop at 1700 S.W. Topeka Blvd., where a man had requested an ambulance. Officers arrived to find Jones, Sidwell said. Jones was treated at Stormont-Vail Regional Health Center, then released, a hospital spokeswoman said. Kansas law defines that crime as the intentional killing of another person with malice but without premeditation.
Premeditated killings are first-degree murder.
Sidwell said police think Jones talked to someone late Thursday in the 1800 block of S.W. Topeka Boulevard, and police would like to speak to that person. It is so sad for this to happen at this time of year right before Christmas. Willie Hatter was Topeka's 17th homicide victim this year. Topeka had recorded 12 homicides by Dec. 8 last year en route to finishing the year with 15. The last year in which the city recorded 17 or more homicides was 1996, when there were 18.