Third defendant in She’s a Pistol robbery, shooting pleads guilty to murder

One of four men charged with murder in the shooting death of a Shawnee gun shop owner pleaded guilty Wednesday, three days after the start of the suspect’s trial.

Nicquan K. Midgyett, of Kansas City, pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree murder, attempted aggravated robbery, and conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery.

Midgyett, 22, was one of four men who prosecutors say intended to rob She’s a Pistol gun shop Jan. 9, 2015, but failed when confronted by shop owner Jon Bieker, who was fatally injured in the subsequent shooting. Three of the would-be robbers were also wounded before Bieker died.

All four men were charged with first-degree murder.

Midgyett, who went on trial Monday for murder, had previously pleaded guilty to aggravated battery in the case, prosecutors said. He will be sentenced March 8.

In May, Hakeem W. Malik, 21, pleaded guilty in Johnson County District Court to the murder count as well as charges of attempted aggravated robbery, conspiracy and aggravated battery. He was sentenced to life in prison, without the possibility of parole for 25 years.

Another defendant, 22-year-old Londro Emanuel Patterson III, was found guilty of the same charges May 19 after a trial. He was sentenced in July to life in prison. Patterson will have to serve almost 33 years in prison before he is eligible for parole.

A mistrial was declared last month in the case of a fourth defendant, 22-year-old De’Anthony A. Wiley.

According to previous court testimony, the four defendants entered the store and confronted Bieker’s wife, Becky. Two of them pointed guns at her and one punched her in the face, knocking her unconscious.

Her husband then came from a back room and began firing shots as the robbers fled. Three of them, including Wiley, were hit.

According to Wiley and his attorneys, at that point he was on the ground, unable to move, and was attempting to give up. But he claims that when Jon Bieker continued approaching him and firing, he shot Bieker in self-defense.

Wiley was left partially paralyzed as a result of the shooting. His next court appearance is scheduled for Dec 20.

This story was originally published December 13, 2017 at 6:45 PM with the headline "Third defendant in She’s a Pistol robbery, shooting pleads guilty to murder."