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A rural Lansing man has been charged with murder as a result of Friday’s shooting death of a Leavenworth man, according to a prosecution official.
Matthew Astorga, 31, has been charged with first-degree murder, criminal possession of a firearm and fleeing or attempting to elude police, all felonies, County Attorney Frank Kohl said.
Astorga is accused of shooting Ruben Rodriguez Friday night at 920 Cheyenne St.
Kohl said the charges were filed Monday.
Denise Bowling, spokeswoman for the county attorney’s office, said Astorga has not yet made his first court appearance in the case. He is scheduled to appear Wednesday morning in Leavenworth County District Court.
Astorga has been given a $1 million bond, Kohl said.
According to Maj. Robert Smith, deputy chief of the Leavenworth Police Department, the shooting occurred in the front yard of Rodriguez’s residence after he was lured outside.
There reportedly was an exchange of a few words between Rodriguez and Astorga before a gun was fired.
The incident was reported at 8:37 p.m. Friday.
Rodriguez, 50, was shot once in the abdomen. Smith said Rodriguez was not conscious when police officers arrived on the scene.
“He was at that point still breathing and alive,” Smith said.
Rodriguez was transported to Cushing Hospital, where he later was pronounced dead.
Smith said there were two witnesses at the residence at the time of the shooting. They were not injured.
“The suspect was identified as a Hispanic male who fled the area in a black pickup truck,” Smith said.
While en route to the scene of the disturbance, Officer Wade Robinson observed a black pickup truck traveling south on 10th Street at a high rate of speed, Smith said.
Robinson turned around and began to pursue the truck. The driver of the truck turned east on Lewis Drive. The road came to a dead end, but the truck was driven into a muddy field, Smith said.
The truck became stuck in the mud. Robinson took the driver, who was said to be Astorga, into custody without further incident, according to Smith.
Police recovered a .40 caliber handgun from inside the truck. Smith said Monday that he did not know the caliber of the weapon used to shoot Rodriguez.
Smith said Astorga and Rodriguez had been acquainted with each other.
“We are not certain yet of a motive,” Smith said.
Kohl said the charge of criminal possession of a firearm is the result of a prior felony conviction that would prohibit Astorga from having a gun. Kohl said the fleeing or alluding charge stems from the police pursuit.
A rural Lansing man has been charged with murder as a result of Friday’s shooting death of a Leavenworth man, according to a prosecution official.
Matthew Astorga, 31, has been charged with first-degree murder, criminal possession of a firearm and fleeing or attempting to elude police, all felonies, County Attorney Frank Kohl said.
Astorga is accused of shooting Ruben Rodriguez Friday night at 920 Cheyenne St.
Kohl said the charges were filed Monday.
Denise Bowling, spokeswoman for the county attorney’s office, said Astorga has not yet made his first court appearance in the case. He is scheduled to appear Wednesday morning in Leavenworth County District Court.
Astorga has been given a $1 million bond, Kohl said.
According to Maj. Robert Smith, deputy chief of the Leavenworth Police Department, the shooting occurred in the front yard of Rodriguez’s residence after he was lured outside.
There reportedly was an exchange of a few words between Rodriguez and Astorga before a gun was fired.
The incident was reported at 8:37 p.m. Friday.
Rodriguez, 50, was shot once in the abdomen. Smith said Rodriguez was not conscious when police officers arrived on the scene.
“He was at that point still breathing and alive,” Smith said.
Rodriguez was transported to Cushing Hospital, where he later was pronounced dead.
Smith said there were two witnesses at the residence at the time of the shooting. They were not injured.
“The suspect was identified as a Hispanic male who fled the area in a black pickup truck,” Smith said.
While en route to the scene of the disturbance, Officer Wade Robinson observed a black pickup truck traveling south on 10th Street at a high rate of speed, Smith said.
Robinson turned around and began to pursue the truck. The driver of the truck turned east on Lewis Drive. The road came to a dead end, but the truck was driven into a muddy field, Smith said.
The truck became stuck in the mud. Robinson took the driver, who was said to be Astorga, into custody without further incident, according to Smith.
Police recovered a .40 caliber handgun from inside the truck. Smith said Monday that he did not know the caliber of the weapon used to shoot Rodriguez.
Smith said Astorga and Rodriguez had been acquainted with each other.
“We are not certain yet of a motive,” Smith said.
Kohl said the charge of criminal possession of a firearm is the result of a prior felony conviction that would prohibit Astorga from having a gun. Kohl said the fleeing or alluding charge stems from the police pursuit.
