Gunman Charged In Kansas City Shooting That Killed Three


Jackson County (Missouri) prosecutors have charged a 34-year-old ex-con in the murders of three people killed in a shooting in South Kansas City Tuesday night, The Kansas City Star is reporting.

Brandon Howell, who had been acquitted in the 1998 disappearance of two Kansas City teenagers, was arrested Tuesday night following a house-to-house manhunt. He was found walking along Interstate 29 carrying a shotgun, police said.

According to MSN, Howell faces three charges of murder, as well as charges of first-degree assault, burglary, car theft and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to Kansas City police, the events Tuesday night played out as follows:

Police were called to a duplex 1 E Woodbridge Lane in Kansas City at 12:50 P.M. local time, after a woman called 9-1-1 and said “Shotgun.” There, police found 69-year-old Susan Choucroun lying in the driveway of the adjoining property, dead of a shotgun wound. Police entered the home at 1 E Woodbridge Lane and found a severely beaten man and woman in the basement.

Police then initiated a house-to-house search, after which they found two other shooting victims: 88-year-old Lorene Hurst, and her son 63-year-old Darrel Hurst, lying dead in the front yard of a neighboring house.

According to Fox News, the Hurst family said in a statement that Darrel was visiting his mother at the time of the shooting, but did not offer any further details.

Later that afternoon, police were called to a Motel 6, where three victims had been found assaulted. The victims claimed that a man – later identified as Howell – followed them to their room and tried to bum a cigarette. When they refused, Howell allegedly forced his way into the room and assaulted them.

Shortly afterwards, a 2002 Toyota Highlander stolen from the Choucroun home was found abandoned in a parking lot not far from the Motel 6. When Howell was arrested, he allegedly had the keys to the stolen SUV in his pocket.

As of this post, police have not disclosed a possible motive for the shooting. According to MSN, Howell was released from prison in 2011 after serving time for a home invasion in suburban Kansas City, Kansas. Howell is currently being held without bond in Jackson County on murder charges.

Image courtesy of: Kansas City Star

Share this article: Gunman Charged In Kansas City Shooting That Killed Three
More from Inquisitr