According to court officials, one of the two 16-year-olds who were arrested and held in juvenile detention since the mass shooting following the Kansas City Chiefs rally is now facing a felony charge of firing a gun and may be tried as an adult.
The teenager is facing charges of unlawfully using a weapon and resisting arrest at a felony level.
According to a news release from the Family Court division of Jackson County Circuit Court, the charges against the teenager were amended by the Office of the Juvenile Officer on Tuesday.
The teenager is facing criminal charges that have reached the threshold under Missouri law. This means that a judge from the Family Court division will decide whether he should be tried as an adult.
Certification, a necessary step in cases involving serious criminal allegations, can often be a time-consuming process. In Jackson County, this process can take weeks or even months before a final decision is reached.
Another 16-year-old teenager is currently in juvenile detention due to charges related to firearms.
The authorities have chosen not to reveal the specific criminal charge or provide further details about the allegations. However, according to the court’s statement on Tuesday, the second teenager’s charges are not considered as serious as those that would require a certification hearing for a juvenile.
More than a month has passed since the shooting incident outside Union Station, where 25 people were injured. The authorities have clarified that the unfortunate incident was a result of a dispute between two groups that escalated into gunfire.
Tragically, Lisa Lopez-Galvan, a mother of two and a cherished radio DJ from Johnson County, lost her life at the rally. It is devastating to know that among those who were injured in the incident, children comprised nearly half of the victims on that fateful day of February 14th.
In a recent development, Jean Peters Baker, the Jackson County Prosecutor, made a significant announcement regarding the charges against two individuals. Lyndell Mays, 23, and Dominic Miller, 18, are now facing charges of felony murder and other related offenses in connection with the tragic death of Lopez-Galvan. This development marks a crucial step in seeking justice for the victim and holding the responsible parties accountable for their actions.
According to authorities, Mays was the one who drew his gun and fired the first shot. On the other hand, Miller told the police that he had fired his weapon in response to someone who was actively shooting.
Last week, federal prosecutors announced that they had charged three men as straw purchasers of two firearms that were recovered from the scene of the shooting.
According to an affidavit drafted by an agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, it is believed that a minimum of six individuals discharged firearms, while evidence from the case suggests that 12 individuals may have displayed firearms.
Authorities in Kansas City, on the other hand, have chosen not to disclose whether they are investigating any other potential suspects.
