Topeka police investigate new homicide case after man dies of injuries

TOPEKA ( KSNT ) – Topeka police are launching a new homicide investigation following the death of a local man after a police chase.

The Topeka Police Department (TPD) announced in a press release on Wednesday, Aug. 21 that Kyle E. Higgins, 37, of Topeka died as the result of injuries sustained during a recent incident. His death is being investigated as the city’s 13th homicide for Topeka.

Topeka police were called around 4:15 a.m. on Aug. 20 in regards to an aggravated robbery of a vehicle near the intersection of Southwest 29th Street and MacVicar Avenue. Police arriving at the scene were told a vehicle was stolen by people known to the vehicle owner and a child was still inside. Law enforcement later found the child in the 3200 block of Southwest Central Park.

Police located the vehicle a short time later near SE 35th and Indiana. The driver refused to stop for pursuing officers and a chase began, eventually ending when the vehicle hit a pole near Southeast 29th Street and Minnesota. Two people inside the vehicle ran away before officers took them into custody, taking them to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

Law enforcement received a report around 8:30 a.m. of an unresponsive man in the 2200 block of Southwest 29th Street. Officers arriving at the scene found the man, identified as Higgins, and took him to a local hospital for treatment of life-threatening wounds.

The two suspects arrested following the chase are believed to be connected to Higgins’ death. Lorenzo A. Pattmon III, 21, and Rammelo H. Boatwright, 24, both of Topeka, were booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on charges including:

• Attempted first degree murder.
• Aggravated robbery.
• Aggravated kidnapping.
• Aggravated battery.
• Aggravated child endangerment.
• Felony interference.

If you have any information regarding this situation, you are encouraged to share it with the TPD by calling 785-368-9400 or by sending an email to telltpd@topeka.org. You can make anonymous tips to Shawnee County Crime Stoppers by calling 785-234-0007 or by clicking here.

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