Alleged crime spree, including two slayings, involved six KC-area people and an AR-15

An alleged crime spree, including two slayings, has led to a federal indictment of seven people, including six from the Kansas City area.

The indictment includes two capital murder charges. Shawn Burkhalter, 29, of Kansas City and Joshua Nesbitt, 23, of Crowder, Miss., both face two counts of using a firearm to commit murder in relation to a drug-trafficking crime, according to a release issued Thursday by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri.

The two killings — of Danny Lamont Dean in September of 2015 and Anthony Dwayne Johnson one month later — were allegedly committed while Burkhalter and Nesbitt were trying to steal drugs, according to the release.

They allegedly intended to sell the drugs after the robbery.

The two men are also charged in relation to a conspiracy to distribute cocaine and marijuana for a decade-long period ending this week.

The others charged on drug trafficking-related crimes are Autry Hines, 26, of Kansas City; Joslyn Lee, 26, and Nickayla Jones, 22, of Blue Springs; and Rachel Ryce, 30, of Raytown.

Sharika Hooker, 29, of Kansas City is charged with being an accessory after the second killing by hiding evidence, as are Lee, Jones, Hines and Ryce.

Lee is also charged with accessory from the first alleged killing.

Burkhalter and Nesbitt are also charged with robbing a Kansas City business in September 2015 and with brandishing a firearm — the same AR-15 rifle used in the alleged murders.

All seven defendants are in custody.

This story was originally published February 22, 2018 at 8:07 PM with the headline "Alleged crime spree, including two slayings, involved six KC-area people and an AR-15."