GoFundMe created for three women killed Sunday in Kansas City triple homicide
A GoFundMe has been created to help with funeral expenses for the three women killed in a triple homicide over the weekend in Kansas City’s Northland.
Jodie Hopcus, 49, Sherri Duncan, 73, and Hailey Hopcus, 24 were fatally shot in their home Sunday in the 4100 block of Northwest 65th Street, according to Kansas City police. The GoFundMe creator, Julia Marciales, said in the GoFundMe post she was Jodie Hopcus’ friend and co-worker for many years.
“Jodie was a beautiful person. She was caring, funny, and always positive. She was willing to help anyone and was beloved by everyone who had the pleasure of meeting her. Jodie was laid back and kind, her passing is unimaginable,” Marciales said.
Any funds left over will be used to assist the family member who police said was the sole survivor of the attack.
As of early Tuesday afternoon, Marciales had raised nearly $16,000.
The shooting
Police went to the home around 12:40 a.m. Sunday after a 911 caller reported someone had come to their door reporting her mother’s ex-boyfriend shot her mother and shot at her. Investigators found the three deceased women and the dead dog inside the home.
Armando Navarro Jr., was arrested near Abilene, Kansas, after he fled the scene of the shooting. He is being held without bond. Navarro was charged with three counts of first-degree murder, one count of first-degree assault and four counts of armed criminal action in Platte County Circuit Court Monday.
He was also charged with animal abuse, a misdemeanor, for allegedly shooting and killing the family’s dog, authorities said.
The surviving victim said prior to the shooting Navarro had been arguing with her mother, according to court documents. She said she heard her mother telling Navarro to leave, and he replied that he didn’t want to leave. The confrontation continued for about an hour.
At one point, Navarro came out armed with a handgun and started to shot her mother in the arm, the victim said. After he ran out of bullets, he allegedly grabbed a knife and her mother tried to shield her behind her body.
As her mother was trying to get to a door, he allegedly shot her again, the detective wrote in the documents. She said she saw her grandmother was on the ground, motionless.
Her sister told her to get out of the house, and as she attempted to leave, he shot her sister and fired at her, she said. She ran from the home, hid at a nearby residence and watched her mother’s vehicle leave the house, according to court documents.
Authorities determined Navarro left in a 2020 Ford Expedition with a California license plate registered to one of the victims and tracked him to Abilene, Kansas, a little more than two hours west of the home.
Platte County prosecutor Eric Zahnd said in a press conference Monday morning his office would consider whether to pursue the death penalty for Navarro in the coming days.
