Second suspect charged in I-70 shooting in Independence

The Jackson County prosecutor’s office has charged a second man in the death of a man shot in the head and died at an Independence QuikTrip.

Donovan L. James, 18, of Kansas City, was charged on Monday with second-degree murder, unlawful use of a weapon and armed criminal action.

Charges filed against James come two days after the prosecutor’s office charged a Pleasant Hill man, 26-year-old Michael T. Dumas. Dumas was charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action on Saturday.

Court documents identified the shooting victim as Phillip J. Anderson.

The shooting was reported Friday night. Surveillance video distributed by Independence police Monday showed two people who were considered “persons of interest.”

The video, apparently taken from a security camera at a convenience store, shows two people enter the store shortly after 9 p.m. on Friday, which is when the shooting was reported. Police said they think the two people may have been involved.

It was unclear Monday whether the convenience store on the video is the QuikTrip where the homicide occurred.

The shooting began near I-70 and Noland Road, where witnesses saw shots being fired from a black vehicle at a silver vehicle, according to police. Anderson was found fatally shot in the parking lot of the QuikTrip at U.S. 40 and Sterling Avenue.

Dumas and James were seen exchanging words with Anderson at a nearby gas station before the incident, according to court records.

James is accused of leaning out the back of a passenger window and firing shots at the other vehicle.

Dumas’ vehicle was found abandoned near Truman Sports Complex, and witnesses told police Dumas was hiding in some nearby woods.

Police asked anyone with information about the killing to call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-8477 or send email to leads@indepmo.org.

This story was originally published October 2, 2017 at 12:53 PM with the headline "Second suspect charged in I-70 shooting in Independence."