18-year-old charged in Kansas City shooting that left another 18-year-old dead
Charges have been filed in the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Mauricia Strother, a step her family says brings them closer to healing.
Wesley Palton, 18, was charged with second-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon, the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office said Friday.
On May 3, Kansas City police responded to a shooting in the 8000 block of Michigan Avenue. Strother was found shot in a vehicle. She was transported to an area hospital where she died three days later.
Nine shell casings were found on the street, charging documents said, indicating the rounds were fired from a moving vehicle.
A witness told police that the day before the shooting, Strother was trying to keep Palton away from his girlfriend, who he had allegedly abused, and Palton threatened Strother.
Surveillance video from the block showed a vehicle associated with the defendant, the prosecutor’s office said.
Palton was arrested Tuesday. He said he was at home the night of the shooting and denied involvement.
His attorney Brian Costello said Friday that he had just been hired on the case and had not yet received the discovery.
Amy Acklin, Strother’s grandmother, said she hopes for justice.
“I’m going to show up every time he’s on the docket,” Acklin said. “I just want to ask him ‘Why, why, why?’”
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.
