The man who went on a shooting rampage in downtown Wichita nearly 41 years ago, killing three people and injuring several others, has been denied parole. 

At 3 p.m. on August 11, 1976, then-19-year-old Michael Soles set up on the southeast 26th floor balcony of the former downtown Holiday Inn. From there he had a clear view of pedestrians and drivers on Douglas and Kennedy Plaza.  

Killed in the shooting were 23-year-old Mark Falen, 56-year-old Joe Goulart and 57-year-old Elmer Hensley. 

The Kansas Department of Corrections on Tuesday said in a news release that Soles' parole was denied due to the violent nature of the crime and because "the community has been exceedingly opposed to the inmate's release and inmate has not served a sufficient amount of time in relation to the offense committed."

The 60-year-old's next parole hearing will be in July of 2027. 

Retired Sedgwick County Sheriff Mike Hill was then one of the Wichita police officers who put themselves in harm's way to stop Soles' attack.

"He actually carried his weapons into the lobby," Hill said. "Back then people weren't really as concerned about people with weapons as they are today."  

Retired Wichita officer John Coonrod said the department didn't have any long rifles that would reach the 26th floor where soles was. Officers they had to go in there, putting their lives on the line to make the arrest.

Bobby Stout was a deputy chief at the time and remembers the high anxiety.

"We were able to take him without killing him and without getting themselves killed, and that was a relief to all of us," Stout said.   

Soles was taken into custody after being shot by Wichita police. He was convicted a few months later on 12 charges, including first-degree murder, and sentenced to three life terms.