Investigators spent a busy day Wednesday clearing up the case of who fatally shot an Americus teen on Saturday.
Beau Arndt, 18, was killed by a single rifle shot while hunting near Roads 310 and D in northwest Lyon County. The shot, witnesses said, was fired from a red and orange pickup truck driving slowly by. The truck had Shawnee County tags and at least one occupant had told one witness that he lived near the Josten’s plant in Topeka.
“We had a break in the case midday yesterday,” Lyon County Sheriff Gary Eichorn said this morning. “I’m confident we’ve got the case cleared.”
Eichorn said investigators went to Topeka on Wednesday, located the three people who were in the pickup truck and interviewed all of them. One of them, a 57-year-old Topeka man, is believed to be the person who fired the fatal shot.
That man, Eichorn said, talked to his attorney and cooperated with authorities working to pin down details in the case. He has not yet been arrested.
Eichorn said this morning that investigators were working on the probable cause affidavit for the county attorney to determine charges and file an arrest warrant. The sheriff said he anticipated that, once that is done, the man will surrender.
This morning, just hours before Beau Arndt’s funeral was set to begin, the Arndt family was not available for comment. On Wednesday, however, as news spread that the man had been found, Bob Arndt spoke of the family’s feelings.
“We believe — authorities believe — it was a complete accident,” he said. “I feel sorrowful about what this person is going through.”
Arndt was thankful that it wasn’t another teen who had fired the fatal shot.
“I am thankful it’s not another young person’s life that can be hurt,” he said.
Chris Arndt, Beau’s mother, agreed and added on Wednesday that she was glad to get some closure.
About the same time that authorities were talking to the occupants of the truck, Kansas conservation organizations were arranging a reward fund for information leading to an arrest. The groups — the Kansas Wildlife Federation, Kansas Wildlife Officers Association, Kansas Chapters of the National Wild Turkey Federation, the Emporia Area Chapter of Quail Unlimited, the Kansas State Council of Quail Unlimited, Quail Unlimited, Lyon County Hunter Education Instructors, Kansas Outfitters Association, Geary County Fish and Game Association, Friends of Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever — raised more than $5,000.
It may not be paid, however. Eichorn said that, although the sheriff’s office received lots of tips about the case and plenty of reports of trucks to look at, it wasn’t a tip that led officers to the men.
“It was just police work,” he said.
Comments
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Posted by mfrankli (anonymous) on December 20, 2007 at 9:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Perhaps rather than pay out as a reward some of those funds can be used in the hunters education campaign set out by Beau's family & friends. His parents are obviously good people. It has got to be hard to deal with and to be able to forgive is a great gift.
Posted by jan (anonymous) on December 20, 2007 at 1:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
As a parent who has lost both her children to tragic accidents, It is very hard to forgive, but for the sake of your own sanity and peace of mind. It has to be done. I am still working on forgiving the two different people who killed my boys. One in 1997 and the other in Dec. 2004. The Arndt's whom I do not know, but just through reading the newspaper articles and listening to the news on radio and tv, have to be a very strong, loving close knit family. I wish them all the best in the healing process. My heart aches for them, knowing what they will be living through in the months, and years to come. God bless them
Janis Humbert
Posted by none (anonymous) on December 21, 2007 at 1:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I would have to disagree with the "authorities" that this was a complete accident. The man intentionally fired a rifle into the flock of geese (decoys). This is illegal. The gun didn't accidentally go off, he pulled the trigger. I hope this guy doesn't get off easy because someone confuses stupidity with an accident. It is unfortunate, but people need to be held responsible for their actions and the results of them. May the LORD give grace to the Arndt family during this time.
Posted by Mad_Angler (anonymous) on December 22, 2007 at noon (Suggest removal)
This was not an accident. The shooter did something stupid, irresponsible, and illegal. An innocent young man died as a result of his actions.
This is manslaughter and is similar to when a drunk driver kills someone.
I commend the parents for holding no ill will towards the killer. Their forgiveness is very commendable. But the shooter needs to pay a fairly severe penalty to prevent similar irresponsibility in the future.
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