Kevin Easter

Kevin S. Easter, a dedicated and respected Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Deputy, was a man known for his professionalism and genuine commitment to serving his community. The 24-year-old white male came from a law enforcement family; his father had also been in the profession, and his brother, Jeff, was a Wichita Police officer who would later become the Sedgwick County Sheriff. Kevin was described by his brother as witty, comical, and someone who cared deeply about people. After two and a half years with the sheriff's office, he was just two weeks away from a new position with the Drug Enforcement Administration. His colleagues and loved ones remembered him for the lasting impact he made on those he worked with and the community he served.

In the pre-dawn hours of January 8, 1996, Deputy Easter’s life was cut short in the line of duty. He spotted a stolen vehicle with a broken headlight and initiated a traffic stop, but the driver refused to pull over. A high-speed pursuit began, ending when the driver lost control, crashed through a fence, and came to a stop in a residential yard in southeast Wichita, near Range and Southfork Streets. The driver and four other juvenile occupants immediately fled the vehicle. Deputy Easter began a foot pursuit of the driver, a 14-year-old named Sakone Donesay.

Deputy Easter chased Donesay and caught up to him as the teenager tried to vault a fence. A struggle ensued, and Easter pulled Donesay to the ground, pinning him. During the struggle, Donesay, who had retrieved a .25 caliber pistol from under the car seat, managed to put the gun over his shoulder and fire multiple times. Deputy Easter was shot at close range in his right forearm, right shoulder, the back of his head, and the back of his neck. The fatal bullet entered the back of his neck, traveling through his lung and liver.

Wichita Police officers, responding to back up Deputy Easter, arrived as the shots were fired. They found the other juveniles near the crashed car and quickly took them into custody. Donesay, after shooting the deputy, grabbed Easter's gun and fled but was quickly confronted by an officer. While trying to run again, he accidentally shot himself in the leg and was apprehended at the scene. A search was launched for Deputy Easter, who was found nearby with severe gunshot wounds. He was rushed to a local hospital but succumbed to his injuries during surgery.

Sakone Donesay, who was on conditional release from a youth facility for a prior offense, was charged as an adult. His case went through a series of trials and appeals. His first conviction for premeditated first-degree murder was reversed due to prejudicial testimony from Deputy Easter's widow. However, he was convicted again in a subsequent trial on charges including premeditated murder, aggravated robbery, and criminal possession of a firearm. He was sentenced to a "hard 40" prison term for the murder, meaning no possibility of parole for 40 years, plus a consecutive sentence of 119 months for the other crimes.

The death of Deputy Kevin Easter left a profound and lasting scar on his family, the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office, and the wider Wichita community. His brother, Sheriff Jeff Easter, has spoken about the immense difficulty of coming to terms with the loss and how it ultimately shaped his understanding of empathy for families of victims. Deputy Easter's memory is honored by his department, which remembers his service and sacrifice as an important part of the agency's history. His name is inscribed on the Kansas Law Enforcement Memorial, a permanent tribute to his ultimate sacrifice in the performance of his duty.