KANSAS CITY, Kan. – A Kansas man received two life sentences on Thursday for killing two sheriff’s deputies while being transported between a courthouse and jail in 2018.
Antoine Fielder, 36, pleaded guilty to two counts of capital murder and one count of aggravated robbery in December, avoiding the death penalty.
Fatal Shooting at Wyandotte County Courthouse
Fielder fatally shot Wyandotte County Deputies Theresa King, 44, and Patrick Rohrer, 35, after overpowering them in a secured area behind the courthouse. Rohrer died shortly after the shooting, while King succumbed to her injuries the next day.
Ties to Previous Murders
Before this crime, Fielder had been charged in two other murders. He was tried twice for the 2015 killing of Kelsey Ewonus, but both trials ended in mistrials, leading to the charge being dropped. He was later linked to the 2017 murder of Rosemarie Harmon in Kansas City, Missouri, through ballistic testing on a stolen firearm.
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Ongoing Criminal Charges at the Time
At the time of the deputies’ deaths, Fielder was facing multiple charges, including first-degree murder in Missouri and carjacking in Kansas.
Family’s Frustration Over Mistrials
Ewonus’ family expressed frustration that Fielder was freed after his mistrials, believing he would kill again.
