Homicide suspect caught, charged with July double murder

UPDATE: Police have since caught up with the guy and taken him into custody. Darell T. Rodgers, 20,of Kansas City is charged with two counts each of first-degree murder and armed criminal action in a double homicide in the 1000 block of Garfield in July. Cousins Kevin E. Todd, 20, and Richard Sanders, 19, were found shot execution-style in a car.

This just in from KCPD (they haven't said which homicide the guy is a suspect in):

Today officers attempted to stop a vehicle that they believed was occupied by a homicide suspect. The suspect vehicle refused to stop and crashed near 42nd and Wayne. Suspects fled the vehicle on foot. One suspect was taken into custody after the pursuit.

Officers have taken a second person into custody. At this time the suspect wanted for homicide is not believed to be in custody.

Officers are still on scene investigating.

| Sara Shepherd

Add one to KC homicide count

UPDATE: The victim has been positively identified as 23-year-old Jonathan Conklin of Kansas City.

The latest was discovered early this morning in the Northeast. Shooter(s) left one dead, another critically wounded.

Christine reports that police found one man with life-threatening injuries in the 3000 block of Peery Avenue. He said that he and a friend had both been shot, so officers began searching the area for the second victim, locating his body in a backyard in the 3100 block of East 12th Street.

| Sara Shepherd

Next-door neighbor guilty of elderly woman's murder

Neighbors described the victim as the matriarch of the block. She was found with her throat slashed, her jaw broken and worse.

"She had no reason to die like that, none whatsoever," one said.

| Sara Shepherd

KCPD names victim from homicide at 116th and Holiday

From KCPD: The victim is identified as 20-year-old Maurice West of KCMO. There are no suspects in custody and detectives ask anyone with information to call the TIPS Hotline at 816.474.8477.

1 man shot and killed in south KC

From KCPD: Today at approximately 4pm, KCMO Police were called to 116 St and Holiday Dr in regard to the sound of gunshots. Upon arrival a shooting victim (b/m approx. 20yrs old) was located in the street with no signs of life. He was pronounced dead a short time later.

Witnesses state the victim was walking with another male when two black males approached on foot and shot the victim. The suspects ran north on 116 street and are possibly in a house on Longview Rd. Detectives are interviewing several witnesses in an attempt to locate the suspects. Anyone with information is asked to call the TIPS Hotline at 816.474.8477.

The Murder of Steve Harvey

This Thursday will mark 29 years since Steve Harvey, a local jazz musician, was murdered in Penn Valley Park. His killer was acquitted in state court, but thanks to Harvey's family and local activist Alvin Sykes, the feds took up the case and convicted the killer on a federal civil-rights charge. The case was featured on A&E's "City Confidential" a few years ago, and Aaron Barnhart wrote a good article about Harvey here.

Police name man killed near 31st and Prospect

This is the incident from Friday afternoon, where two men were shot, one fatally, outside the shopping center there.

From KCPD: The homicide victim is identified as 19yr old Tyler R. Creal, b/m, of KCMO. The case is still under investigation and anyone with information is asked to call the TIPS Hotline at 816.474.8477.

Guilty plea in two Northland slayings

From Meredith Rodriguez: A Kansas City man pleaded guilty Friday to two counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of two people in December 2006.

Lark E. Gardner Jr. had allegedly joined three others in robbing a home in the 4200 block of Northeast 44th Street. The home was believed to be a drug house, according to a probable cause statement from Kansas City police. During the robbery, one of Gardner’s co-defendants, Prentiss R. Fulton, shot and killed Angela Windle, 18, and Patrick Hooton, 22, while injuring two others.

1 dead, 1 injured in shooting at 31st and Prospect

From KCPD: Officers on Friday at 2:51 p.m. were called to 31st and Prospect to investigate a shooting. Upon arriving the officers found a male in the parking lot of the shopping center near Cash America Pawn. The man had been shot and was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead.

A second shooting victim was located at another area hospital at about 316 pm. Detectives are investigating the possibility these two shooting victims may be related.

A witness reported the victim was chasing 2 other males through the parking lot. The victim was shooting at the 2 other males and the 2 males were shooting at the victim.

KCK teen charged in homeless man's death

From Christine Vendel: Jackson County prosecutors today filed an involuntary manslaughter charge against a 17-year-old in connection with the death of a homeless man in the middle of a downtown Kansas City street April 1.

A judge certified Isaiah N. Betts, of Kansas City, Kan., who was 16 when the crime occurred, to face trial as an adult. Betts is accused of punching Dwayne E. Smith, and leaving him unconscious in the street, where he later was run over by a car.

Return to the Paradise Motel

Another local blogger, Midtown Miscreant, has a piece here about the Paradise Motel, the scene of a murder back in 2007. Kusumben Patel, whose family owned the business, was found dead -- her grandchild, 2, was with the body, but unharmed. Double-M revisits the motel today to see what it's like.

1 shot in the head in 10600 block of East 42nd

From Joe Lambe: Kansas City police are working an early morning shooting murder. They responded to a call at about 5 a.m. to an apartment complex at the 10600 block of East 42nd Street and found a man shot in the head, they said.

Weekend homicide victim was from Chicago, KCPD says

Kansas City police have identified the man who was shot and killed about 8 p.m. Saturday in the 5200 block of Truman: Miguel A. Grimaldo, Hispanic/male, 09/28/1990, from Chicago, Ill.

1 shot, killed in 5200 block of Truman Road

From KCPD: On 10/24/09, at approximately 7:48 p.m. officers were called to the 5200 block of Truman Rd. on sound of shots. The call was later updated to a party down. Upon arrival officers located a victim suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. The victim, a hispanic male in his early twenties was pronouned dead at the scene. Anyone with information is asked to call the TIPS Hotline.

Who killed Sharon Bundy?

Christine has more details about the slaying of Sharon Bundy, a 64-year-old woman who was found dead early Wednesday in her home near 29th and Poplar. Her husband, Steve, was working a paper-delivery route at the time. He was called home by a friend, who had found Sharon's body. Snip:

The friend had been sleeping in a car in front of their house, police said, and had awakened to see a suspect fleeing the front door in the darkness. The friend went inside, found Sharon Bundy dead and called for help.

The Bundys live on a dead-end street surrouned by vacant houses. Her case is the city's 92nd homicide of this year, compared to 109 at the same point last year. Anyone with information is asked to call the Crime Stoppers TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (474-8477).

Who killed Mauro Brito-Pacheco?

From Crime Stoppers: The Crime Stoppers TIPS Hotline and the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department are requesting assistance from the public to identify the person(s) responsible for the August 10, 2009 robbery/homicide of Mauro Brito-Pacheco. The offense occurred at 922 W. 24th Street, Tina’s Hair Salon, in Kansas City, Missouri.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers Greater Kansas City TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477), TIPS may also be submitted electronically at KCcrimestoppers.com, or by texting TIP452 and you information to 274637 (CRIMES). Information leading to an arrest in the case could be eligible for up to $2,500.00 in reward money.

More about the case here.

Update in Jasmine Lynn homicide

Lynn, a Kansas City native, was studying at Spelman College in Atlanta when she was struck and killed by a stray bullet in September. The man charged with firing the gun now says it was his friend who pulled the trigger. The prosecutors still say they've got the right guy.

KC investigating homicide in 2900 block of Poplar

From KCPD: On 10/21/09, at approximately 3:02 a.m., officers were called to the 2900 block of Poplar on an ambulance call. Upon arrival contact was made with the calling party who discovered a white female in her 60's deceased. Detectives arrived at the scene and are investigating the death as a homicide. Anyone with information is asked to call the TIPS Hotline 816-474-8477.

Guilty verdict in Filling Station murder

Jacob Briggs was shot and killed back in October 2006 outside the Filling Station restaurant and club in south Kansas City. Another victim, Reno Dillard, survived. On Tuesday, a jury found Sylvester R. Sisco II guilty of the slaying. Surveillance video recorded the attack, but it wasn't clear if Sisco was on the tape. A lot of the prosecution's case rested on two reluctant witnesses, Mark Morris reports.

1 shot dead in KCK's 1500 block of Georgia

From Bob Cronkleton: Kansas City, Kan., police are investigating the city’s latest homicide this morning after finding the body of a man inside a house. Police received a call about 12:55 a.m. today of a reported armed disturbance in the 1500 block of Georgia Avenue. When officers arrived, they found a man who had been shot to death.

The man’s death is being investigated as a homicide. The man’s identity is not being released until relatives are notified.

Who killed Lorne Mabon?

KCPD has identified the victim of a fatal shooting yesterday at 29th and Indiana: Lorne Mabon, 19, of Kansas City. Police are still looking for suspects in the homicide. Anyone with information is asked to call the Crime Stoppers TIPS Hotline at (816) 474-TIPS (474-8477).

Man fatally shot near 29th and Indiana

From KCPD: Today (10/13/2009) at 2:23pm, KCMO police were called to 29th and Indiana in regard to a shooting. Upon arrival, officer’s located a black male (approx. 20yrs old) on the sidewalk suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported to a local hospital and pronounced dead a short time later. Witnesses observed a black male fleeing on foot immediately after the shooting. Detectives are on the scene and ask anyone with information to call the TIPS Hotline at 816.474.8477.

KCPD homicide count stands at 90

Compared to 103 at the same point last year.

Charges filed in Travis McGaugh homicide

Clifford Harris, 26, faces charges of second-degree murder, first-degree assault and armed criminal action in the slaying of Travis McGaugh. McGaugh was killed (and an acquaintance shot) back in April in a parking garage near 59th and Walrond.

Man shot, killed in 4000 block of St. John in KC

From KCPD: Officers were called Wednesday at 1110pm to 4005 St. John to investigate a shooting. When they arrived, they discovered a male lying in the street. The man had been shot and was pronounced dead at the scene. Anyone with information is asked to call the TIPS hotline at 816.474.8477.

UPDATED, from KCPD: The victim has been positively identified as 18-year-old Rodney S. Coleman of KCMO. There are no suspects in custody and anyone with information is asked to call the TIPS Hotline at 816.474.8477.