Malachi Davis, accused in the March 8 shooting death of John Paul Kent in Humboldt, has pleaded no contest and been found guilty to a reduced charge of voluntary manslaughter.
Davis, 25, of Humboldt, had originally been charged with second-degree murder but agreed to the no-contest plea to the reduced charge.
Allen County District Judge Daniel Creitz will mete out Davis’s punishment on Aug. 3.
Davis was accused of gunning down Kent following an altercation between Davis and his girlfriend near the intersection of 10th and Sycamore streets in Humboldt.
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation alleged the girlfriend sought refuge with a neighbor, who then contacted Kent, 43.
Kent’s arrival resulted in a verbal confrontation with Davis, who fired a single shot from his vehicle, striking Kent in the chest.
Kent was transported via ambulance to Allen County Regional Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Davis fled the scene following the shooting. Multiple law enforcement agencies began searching for the suspect before he was arrested by the Kansas Highway Patrol about 3 ½ hours later near Moran.
A voluntary manslaughter conviction carries a penalty of anywhere between 55 and 247 months in prison and a fine of up to $300,000 and 36 months of post-release supervision.
