Brother says KC manhunt subject set home on fire mid-standoff, displacing family
Kansas City police are continuing to search for a 22-year-old man suspected of instigating a string of shootings Tuesday night, who has now escaped two standoffs with law enforcement.
The ongoing multi-state manhunt for Oscar Sanchez-Munoz began with a police barricade at an Independence home, which burned late Tuesday night as police tried to coax Sanchez-Munoz out of the house.
Now, Sanchez-Munoz’s brother has said he believes Oscar set the fire, displacing his family as he continues to flee police.
Yandel Munoz created a fundraising page on GoFundMe Thursday, seeking aid as his family searches for temporary housing after the fire.
“This tragedy has left us without a place to live and has taken away the comfort and security we once had,” Munoz wrote. “We are now facing the challenge of finding temporary housing, replacing essential belongings, and trying to rebuild our lives from the ground up.”
Independence Police Department spokesperson Allyx McCoy previously said that five dogs were found dead at the scene of the fire, and that IPD believes they died of smoke inhalation.
Munoz did not name Sanchez-Munoz directly on the fundraising page, but noted that his brother “has been struggling with mental health issues.”
Sanchez-Munoz does not have any criminal history and has not previously interacted with the Jackson County legal system, according to court records. However, he’s also currently wanted on a separate warrant in Kansas City, Kansas.
The house on Brookside Drive was occupied by relatives of Sanchez-Munoz, but appears to be owned by a couple based in Edwards, Missouri, according to property records. The homeowners were unavailable for comment Thursday.
Neighbors previously described the street as a quiet residential area, with police presence considered out of the ordinary. Three neighbors previously told The Star that they had presumed the suspect — now identified as Sanchez-Munoz — to be dead, after watching the house burn without seeing him exit.
