Man charged in homicide, high-speed chase Wednesday in Kansas City
A 36-year-old Kansas City man has been charged in connection with a fatal shooting and a high-speed chase that led across the state line into Kansas Wednesday evening.
Eric Thomas is charged with second-degree murder and other crimes in the killing of Darren E. Marshall, 28, during a shooting near East 27th Street and Chestnut Avenue, the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office announced Sunday.
The killing was one of three separate homicides reported that day.
According to the charging documents, police were called to the area about 7:15 p.m. and found Marshall dead in the 2700 block of 27th Street. Nearby, investigators found a handgun and five spent shell casings.
Witnesses had alerted police to look for a suspect in a green Pontiac. After an officer spotted one at 27th and Prospect Avenue, police tried to stop the car but it sped away. The driver led police on a chase, running red lights and reaching speeds up to 85 mph.
The chase crossed the state line into Kansas, where police stopped the car and arrested Thomas, the driver and only occupant of the car.
Police said Thomas told them, “Somebody shoot at me, I’m shooting back.” Thomas later denied making the statement.
Inside the car, police also found a handgun, which was allegedly matched to shell casings found at the shooting scene.
In addition to the murder charge, Thomas is charged with armed criminal action, unlawful possession of a firearm and resisting arrest.
Thomas had previously been convicted of felony resisting arrest, and would not have been legally allowed to carry a gun.
Prosecutors requested a $150,000 bond. Online court records did not show a defense attorney representing Thomas in the case.
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 and sponsored in part by Missouri Foundation for Health. As part of this project, The Star will seek the community’s help.
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