# Woman sentenced to 'Hard 50' for fatal shooting at Wichita bikini bar

WICHITA, Kan. (KAKE) - A 34-year-old woman has been sentenced to life in prison for her role in a deadly shooting outside of a Wichita adult club.

A jury convicted Autumn Metcalf in August 2024 of first-degree murder and solicitation to commit murder. Judge Eric Williams on Monday sentenced her to life with parole eligibility after 50 years for the murder charge and 61 months for the solicitation charge. The sentences will run consecutively.

Metcalf was accused in the  of fatally shooting a 33-year-old Joe Wheeler III at Baby Dolls, a "bikini bar" at 4900 North Arkansas.

Officers responded that night to a shooting and found Wheeler dead in his vehicle.

Following her arrest  after the shooting,  that Wheeler and Metcalf both worked at the club. Witnesses, including employees, told investigators they heard Wheeler and Metcalf arguing for more than two hours.

An employee said Metcalf called four to five people. At one point, witnesses said she described Wheeler to the other person on the phone. A witness said Metcalf told someone on the phone, "Yeah, he's still here. Come back up."



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The suspect was arrested during a sting operation in August. The suspect was booked into Wichita County Jail on felony charges of attempted murder, attempted aggravated robbery, attempted aggravated battery, and arson. The suspect was initially charged with manslaughter but was transferred to a higher level when the charges were changed.

The suspect, 28-year-old Sean Walker, is currently in protective custody.

The shooting occurred at Baby Dolls on August 24, 2020. The shooter fired multiple shots into the victim's vehicle, killing him. The victim's father, Francis Wheeler, was killed in a crash the following day. The teen was found dead in a bed of his friend, Alexis Cole, the victim's sister. The teen's body was taken from the victim's home for forensic analysis.

Wheeler's funeral was held on March 12, 2021, in Wichita. The victim's friends and family, along with Wichita Community College students, gathered for his funeral. He was buried in Wichita on March 14, 2021.



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