Aftermath of today's presser and a testament to the horrific local level of violence. Take a look:
"Frederick Scott, 22, has been charged with two counts of murder in the first degree and armed criminal action in connection with the deaths of Steven Gibbons and John Palmer."
Today's statement from the Prosecutor's Office . . .
According to court records filed today, Kansas City police detectives connected the defendant to the Aug. 13, 2017, fatal shooting of Steven Gibbons, dob: 3/18/1960, from surveillance video that showed the victim on a bus and a man following the victim. The man following was drinking from a ice tea bottle. Police located a man who appeared like the man in the video and asked him his identification. They also collected a cigarette butt he was observed smoking. DNA from the cigarette and the ice tea matched. That DNA also matched DNA from the fatal shooting of John Palmer, who was found Aug. 19, 2016, on the Indian Creek Trail near Bannister Road and Lydia. Scott told police he shot Palmer and dragged the victim's body away from the trail.
More . . .
Since August 2016, there have been five homicides in the area.
According to police, all of the victims are white males between the ages of 54 and 67; three of them were walking their dogs on the trail or in close proximity to it.
Links:
KMBC: Man charged with homicide in Indian Creek Trail murder and other shooting incident
KCT5: Suspect charged in 2 deaths along Indian Creek Trail; suspect in 3 more
Fox4: Prosecutor says DNA evidence on bottle, shirt & cigarette led to charges in Indian Creek Trail murder case
KCUR: Asked for a motive in the murders, (Prosecutor Jean Peters) Baker said that was still under investigation but that Scott may have been mad about his brother’s death some time ago.
KSHB: Prosecutors say they only have enough evidence to charge Scott in two of the murders. Officials are asking for anyone with any information to come forward.
If you have any information, you're encouraged to call the Kansas City Police Department or the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-8477 (TIPS).
Developing . . .