Johnson County man convicted of lesser charges in Kansas City double homicide
A Johnson County man who was charged with two counts of second-degree murder in a fatal double shooting in Kansas City’s Northeast area was found guilty last week of the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter in both killings, court documents show.
The Jackson County jury returned the verdict on Friday, also finding Jared Catarino of Overland Park guilty of two counts each of armed criminal action and stealing a firearm in the killings of 22-year-old Jimmy Bowman and 15-year-old Antonio Frazier Jr. The jury acquitted Catarino on two additional counts of armed criminal action.
The jury also recommended that Catarino serve 12 years for each manslaughter conviction, three years for each armed criminal action conviction, and one year for each stealing of a firearm conviction. The decision came days before Catarino turns 21 on Sept. 8. Sentencing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Nov. 4.
Meanwhile, another person charged in connection with the killings, 18-year-old Austin C. Stiles of Kansas City, Kansas, is scheduled to stand trial before a jury on Oct. 6. Stiles faces two counts of felony second-degree murder, four counts of armed criminal action, and two counts of stealing firearms.
According to court documents, the double homicide occurred shortly after 7 p.m. on Sept. 18, 2024, in the 300 block of Maple Boulevard in the Pendleton Heights neighborhood. Both victims were pronounced dead at the scene.
The killings stemmed from a robbery that occurred the day before, according to court documents. Stiles allegedly told police that they plotted to rob the victims under the pretense of arranging a gun sale, luring them to the park for the deal.
Surveillance video captured key moments of the incident, including a dark blue Chrysler 300 that arrived near the scene before the shooting. Investigators later linked the vehicle to Stiles.
According to court documents, a suspect, whose name was redacted, told detectives the shooting was in self-defense. Prosecutors had alleged Catarino was the shooter.
