Kansas Tax Agent Shooting: Suspect Told Acquaintance 'I Just Killed A Guy,' Investigators Say

WICHITA, KS — Hours after tax enforcement agent Cortney Holloway served Ricky Wirths a tax warrant — he owed nearly $400,000 in unpaid taxes — and seized some of Wirths's property, Wirths walked into Holloway's office in Wichita, pulled a gun out of his portfolio and started shooting, authorities said. Wirths then called a an acquaintance and asked for a favor: "Take care of my employees and kids because I just killed a guy," investigators said.

The Wichita Eagle reported it was one of two calls Wirths, 52, made following the Sept. 19 attack on Holloway, who was shot several times — and survived — according to an arrest affidavit written by a Wichita police detective. Wirths, who owed nearly $400,000 in outstanding taxes, pleaded not guilty to attempted first-degree murder and is jailed on $500,000 bond.

Holloway, 35, a tax enforcement agent for the Kansas Department of Revenue, told investigators that a tax warrant was served to Wirths at his home and some of Wirths' property was seized, the detective wrote. About two hours later, Wirths came to Holloway's office and asked to speak to him. When Holloway came to see Wirths, Wirths asked him, "Why did you take my money? Why did you take my stuff?" He then pulled a handgun from a portfolio he was holding and started shooting, he wrote. (For more information on Wirths's case and other Wichita stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

The wounded Holloway fled to a back office, where colleagues started tending to wounds to the right side of his upper chest, his left thigh, left middle finger and right arm, the affidavit states.

The affidavit said Wirths then called a 55-year-old male acquaintance and asked for a favor: "Take care of my employees and kids because I just killed a guy."

The man didn't understand what Wirths was talking about and asked for clarification, to which Wirths told him, 'No, I'm serious. I'm done. I lost it.'"

Wirths also called a man who works for him and said, "I just shot somebody. Thank you for all of your hard work."

Wirths was arrested after stopping his truck near an officer and announcing he was surrendering, the affidavit says.

Image via Shutterstock