WICHITA — The Kansas Supreme Court on Friday affirmed the convictions and life sentence of Laroy West, 47, for the May 2021 fatal shooting of a QuikTrip security guard near downtown Wichita, closing the highest-state-court review in a case that has remained prominent in the city’s criminal-justice coverage.
West had been convicted in 2023 of first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated assault and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. All but one of those counts were tied to the May 2021 death of 39-year-old Will Robinson, a former Wichita police officer who was working as a security guard at the time. One weapon-possession charge related to an unrelated incident in March 2021.
What the appeal argued
On appeal, West raised several challenges to the 2023 trial court’s rulings. He argued the trial court should have held separate trials for the March and May 2021 incidents, contending joinder prejudiced his defense. He also challenged key aspects of the judge’s jury instructions — notably an "initial aggressor" instruction, which tells jurors that a person who provokes an attack cannot then claim self-defense. West further asserted the trial court erred by not allowing the jury to consider lesser included offenses, such as involuntary manslaughter or crimes committed in the "heat of passion," and contended that the judge improperly excluded certain evidence favorable to his defense.
The Kansas Supreme Court rejected each of those claims, finding no reversible error in the lower courts’ handling of the case. Among the court’s determinations was that the March and May incidents could be tried together because they were "of the same or similar character." The justices also concluded the initial-aggressor instruction was appropriate under Kansas law and that the trial judge’s rulings on evidence and instruction did not warrant a new trial.
"The state high court affirmed the lower court's rulings on all issues," the court's decision stated.
Sentence and local context
West was sentenced to life in prison following the 2023 verdict. The May 2021 killing of Will Robinson drew particular attention in Wichita because Robinson had served as a police officer before working in private security. Since that 2021 slaying, the case has been followed by the community and by local news organizations as it moved through trial and appeals.
- Defendant: Laroy West, 47.
- Victim: Will Robinson, 39, former Wichita police officer.
- Convictions: First-degree murder; two counts aggravated assault; two counts criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon.
| Issue on Appeal | Kansas Supreme Court Ruling |
|---|---|
| Joinder of March and May incidents | Permitted — incidents were "of the same or similar character" |
| Initial aggressor jury instruction | Appropriate under Kansas law |
| Exclusion of defense evidence / lesser-included offenses | No reversible error found |
The court’s decision keeps intact a life sentence imposed after the jury’s 2023 guilty verdicts. For Wichita residents, the ruling affirms the outcome of a case that involved both a violent death in a public commercial corridor and questions about how multiple incidents separated by months may be joined in a single prosecution.
Why the ruling matters locally
Beyond the individual result for West and the Robinson family, the decision reinforces precedents Kansas courts will apply in future trials involving multiple similar incidents and the use of the initial-aggressor instruction. In practical terms, trial judges and defense attorneys in Wichita and across Kansas will look to the court’s reasoning when deciding whether to seek separate trials or press for particular jury instructions.
For the community that continues to grapple with violent crime and its consequences, the ruling represents a final appellate step in a case that began in May 2021 and moved through trial in 2023 before reaching the state’s highest court in 2026.
As the legal process closes in this episode, the case remains a reference point in local discussions about security at businesses, the risks faced by off-duty and former officers working in private capacities, and how Kansas law treats related criminal incidents occurring within a short time frame.
