Jeremy F. Volle becomes second man convicted in Topeka shooting death of Aaron D. Shepherd

Tim Hrenchir, Topeka Capital-Journal
·2 min read
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Jeremy F. Volle was convicted Friday of crimes linked to the May 2021 central Topeka shooting death of Aaron D. Shepherd, a spokeswoman for District Attorney Mike Kagay's office announced Monday.

A Shawnee County District Court jury convicted Volle, 37, after a five-day trial, said Katie Garceran, public information officer for Kagay's office.

Volle was convicted of one count each of first-degree murder in the commission of a felony, unintentional but reckless second-degree murder and the criminal possession of a weapon by a felon.

He became the second man convicted of crimes that included murder linked to the homicide.

A Shawnee County District Court jury Friday convicted Jeremy Volle of crimes linked to the May 2021 central Topeka shooting death of Aaron Shepherd.
A Shawnee County District Court jury Friday convicted Jeremy Volle of crimes linked to the May 2021 central Topeka shooting death of Aaron Shepherd.

How did police connect Jeremy Volle to the crime?

Shepherd, 49, died at a Topeka hospital after being shot just before 4:45 a.m. on May 27, 2021, on S.W 17th Street, just east of S.W. Buchanan, Topeka police said.

Shepherd was found lying in the roadway next to his vehicle suffering from a gunshot wound, Garceran said.

Police obtained surveillance video taken in the area, which enabled them to determine Shepherd was shot by someone who was in a Chevrolet Trailblazer, she said.

"Additional investigation revealed that Jeremy Volle was the passenger in the Trailblazer and police subsequently came into possession of evidence that established his responsibility for committing the crime," Garceran said.

A sentencing date for Volle hasn't yet been set.

Kansas Department of Corrections records showed Volle has previous convictions for felonies committed in Shawnee, Jackson and Leavenworth counties, including attempted aggravated battery committed in 2011 in Shawnee County.

Jeremy F. Volle on Friday became the second man convicted of crimes linked to a May 2021 homicide committed at this location on S.W. 17th, just east of S.W. Buchanan.
Jeremy F. Volle on Friday became the second man convicted of crimes linked to a May 2021 homicide committed at this location on S.W. 17th, just east of S.W. Buchanan.

Who else was convicted in the case?

Also convicted in the case was Brandon T.D. Croskey, 33, Topeka Capital-Journal archives show.

Croskey pleaded guilty in November 2022 in Shawnee County District Court to one count each of unintentional but reckless second-degree murder and the criminal discharge of a firearm at an occupied vehicle with great bodily harm, court records show.

Croskey hasn't yet been sentenced.

Contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Second defendant convicted in 2021 Topeka murder of Aaron Shepherd