Crime

Independence teen charged in shooting death of man outside Jackson County gas station

An Independence teenager has been charged in the shooting death of a man Sunday at a Jackson County gas station, the prosecutor’s office said Wednesday.

Camryn Wilkins, 17, was charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action after allegedly fatally shooting 36-year-old Jason Juszcyk outside Truman Mart, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced Wednesday.

Camryn Wilkins, 17, charged with second degree murder and armed criminal action, is accused of fatally shooting 36-year-old Jason Juszcyk outside Truman Mart on May 17, 2020, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.
Camryn Wilkins, 17, charged with second degree murder and armed criminal action, is accused of fatally shooting 36-year-old Jason Juszcyk outside Truman Mart on May 17, 2020, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker. Jackson County Sheriff's Office

Jackson County sheriff’s deputies were called just before 2 a.m. Sunday to a shooting at the gas station at 8301 E. Truman Road in the unincorporated area of Jackson County known as Blue Summit, authorities said.

There they found Juszcyk, also of Independence, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, authorities said. He was taken to the hospital where he later died.

Witnesses told a sheriff’s detective that Juszcyk and Wilkins got into an argument outside the gas station after Juszcyk came out of the business and told Wilkins to go home, yelling “I’ll whoop your ass,” according to the charging documents.

A gas station at 8301 E. Truman Road in Kansas City was the scene of a homicide early Sunday, according to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.
A gas station at 8301 E. Truman Road in Kansas City was the scene of a homicide early Sunday, according to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. Anna Spoerre - The Kansas City Star

Juszcyk then put his hands around Wilkins’ neck and pushed him up against one the gas station’s outside walls, according to the charging documents.

One of the witnesses tried to break up the fight. As they pushed Wilkins away from Juszcyk, the teenager pulled a handgun from his jacket and shot a bullet in the direction of Juszcyk’s feet, according to surveillance footage. When Juszcyk took a step toward Wilkins, he fired five more shots, this time at the man’s torso.

“Why did you shoot him?” someone in the group yelled, according to the charging documents. Wilkins and three others with him then fled the gas station on foot.

Prosecutors requested Wilkins’ bond be set at $250,000.

Gun violence will be the subject of a new, statewide journalism project The Star is undertaking in Missouri this year in partnership with the national service program Report for America. As part of this project, The Star will seek the community’s help.

To contribute, visit Report for America online at reportforamerica.org.

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This story was originally published May 20, 2020 at 10:17 AM.

Anna Spoerre
The Kansas City Star
Anna Spoerre covers breaking news for the Kansas City Star. Before joining The Star in 2020, she covered crime and courts for the Des Moines Register. Spoerre is a graduate of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where she studied journalism.
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