Late on the afternoon of Tuesday, August 24, 2021, a shooting at the Travelers Inn, 3846 SW Topeka Blvd., left 37-year-old James Epps Jr. with life-threatening injuries. Emergency medical personnel pronounced Epps deceased at the scene shortly after police were called just before 2 p.m.

Investigators quickly focused on people who had been at the motel; several were taken into custody for questioning that day. Police identified 19-year-old Isaiah Krainbill of Topeka as the primary suspect and located and arrested him later the same day. He was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on a charge of First Degree Murder. Motive was not released at the time.

Does anyone have information about what happened at the Travelers Inn on August 24, 2021, or knew James Epps Jr.?