After a tense search that had the Shawnee community on high alert, the suspect tied to a stabbing at Hayward's Pit Bar B Que is now in police custody. The Shawnee Police Department, assisted by Lenexa officers, responded to a call concerning a suspicious person near 79th Street and Quivira Road just before 3 a.m. Friday. A brief foot pursuit ensued before the suspect, identified as 23-year-old Maikol Valdes, was apprehended, as reported by Kansas City Star.
The alarming incident unfolded Thursday afternoon when Shawnee police were called to the 10901 West 75th Street location following reports of a physical disturbance. Upon arrival, they discovered one man had been stabbed by Valdes inside the barbecue establishment, according to a department Facebook post. The victim, later identified as Riley Sweeney – the son of the restaurant's owner – was rushed to the hospital and remained in stable condition. The police cautioned the public not to approach the suspect but to report sightings to authorities immediately, as relayed by KCTV5 News.
Kan Valdes, described as having long black hair and wearing all black, ran from the crime scene heading south. Police launched a major search using K-9s, drones, and door-to-door checks. They kept residents updated, shared flyers, and asked for tips. A photo of Valdes helped the public identify him. According to the Kansas City Star, he was already facing serious charges from an earlier incident at St. Luke's Hospital, which adds to the seriousness of the new case at Hayward's.
Adding to Valdes' legal woes is a charge of attempted first-degree murder filed in Johnson County, Kansas, in connection to the stabbing at Hayward's. A bond violation report was also filed after the incident, dimming the outlook for an individual already scheduled to go to trial for charges from the prior year. The ongoing investigation sees a tormented community struggling with the aftermath of an act characterised by the Shawnee police as "very much unprovoked," a fact delineated in an interview with public safety information officer Emily Rittman published by KCTV5 News.
The suspect's capture has undoubtedly brought a degree of relief to those concerned about their safety, like Ivy-Jade Perez, who recounted to KCTV5 News her eerie encounter with a man fitting the description of Valdes shortly after the stabbing incident occurred. Shawnee police continue to encourage residents to reach out directly should they have concerns about their safety as they work to restore calm in the community.
