KC man charged in fatal shooting Monday outside an Independence CVS
A 23-year-old Kansas City man is criminally charged after he allegedly shot and killed a man outside an Independence CVS during a drug deal, according to a news release from the Jackson County Prosecutor’s office.
Edwin Sugastume-Sosa is charged in Jackson County Circuit Court with second degree murder and armed criminal action for the shooting death of Juan Hernandez at the entryway of the CVS on 23rd Street and Crysler Avenue Monday.
According to court records, text messages between Sugastume-Sosa and Hernandez indicated that the two had planned to meet outside the CVS so that Sugastume-Sosa could give Hernandez $4,000. Sugastume-Sosa allegedly told police he was attempting to purchase a “kilo.”
Sugastume-Sosa was identified and found by police using phone records. When he spoke with officers Thursday, court records said, he initially said he met Hernandez and shot him because previous verbal threats caused him to fear for his safety.
After officers showed him the text messages, court records said, Sugastume-Sosa told police that Hernandez became aggressive, so he fired three or shots before fleeing the area.
He allegedly returned to the car he came in, but after the driver of the car told him to get out, Sugastume-Sosa said he got out of the car and fled through woods and creeks, eventually burying his gun in loose soil.
The shooting was the fourth homicide in Independence this year according to data maintained by The Star, which includes fatal police shootings. There had been 10 by this time last year.
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.
