By This Is Topeka Staff
A Topeka man with a long history of arrests has been booked into the Shawnee County Jail on charges of first-degree murder in the commission of a felony and armed aggravated robbery.
According to the Daily Booking Report dated September 9, 2025, Justin Ray Shumway, 42, was taken into custody on the evening of September 8. He is being held without bond.
Shumway has appeared in local and federal courtrooms multiple times over the past decade, with charges ranging from stolen vehicles to firearms offenses. Despite repeated arrests, he has consistently returned to the community, often within months of high-profile cases.
A Pattern of Arrests
- 2014 — Federal Indictment: The U.S. Department of Justice charged Shumway after a high-speed chase ended with a stolen vehicle and firearm.
- December 2019 — WIBW: Arrested during a traffic stop where officers recovered a stolen car and a gun.
- July 2023 — WIBW: Taken into custody following a vehicle pursuit in North Topeka.
- August 2023 — KSNT: Arrested along with another suspect after police discovered a stolen car from Wichita.
- September 8, 2025 — Booking Report: Booked into jail on murder and aggravated robbery charges.
Concerns About the System
The case has raised renewed concerns about Kansas’ criminal justice system and the cycle of what critics describe as “catch and release.” Despite years of serious offenses, Shumway repeatedly avoided long-term incarceration until now.
Local residents and officials are questioning how repeated arrests — including federal charges — failed to prevent escalation to violent crime. The Shawnee County District Attorney’s office has not yet released additional details on the current case.
Shumway remains in custody pending further proceedings.
Resources
- Shawnee County District Attorney’s Office: (785) 251-4330
- Shawnee County Adult Detention Center (Inmate Search & Records): (785) 291-5000
- Kansas District Court Public Access Portal: https://www.kansas.gov/county_courts/
