In the early morning hours of Sunday, December 17, 2023, deputies and emergency personnel responded to a report of a gunshot victim at 15750 Green Hill Road in rural Seward County, Kansas. They found 39-year-old Hispanic male Jose Luis Rios-Favela of Liberal with gunshot wounds; he was taken to Southwest Medical Center and was later pronounced deceased.

At the scene a 21-year-old male from Liberal was found with minor injuries. Authorities have not publicly detailed the circumstances that led to the shooting, but say they believe it was an isolated incident. The Seward County Sheriff’s Office asked the Kansas Bureau of Investigation to assist and a Crime Scene Response Team was dispatched.

The homicide investigation is ongoing and no arrests or suspect information have been released. If anyone has information that could help explain what happened that morning, please share it with the Seward County Sheriff’s Office or the KBI.