Jury convicts Kansas City man of murder in fatal shooting that led to hours-long standoff
A Jackson County jury convicted a Kansas City man Friday of second-degree murder after a fatal July shooting that led to an hours-long standoff with police.
Juan Maiden, 70, is convicted of second-degree murder, unlawful use of a weapon and two counts of armed criminal action. The jury recommended a life sentence on the murder conviction and 15 years on the other convictions, according to the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office.
The murder conviction is in connection with a July 23 shooting that killed a woman at a home in Kansas City’s North Blue Ridge neighborhood.
Officers were dispatched to the 500 block of Booth Avenue after a shooting call around 9:30 p.m. Outside, they found the victim’s sister and a neighbor, who told officers Maiden shot the victim and was still inside, police said in a probable cause affidavit.
Police were unable to enter through the front door, so they broke out a window. Inside, they found a woman in the hallway with an apparent gunshot wound to her head, according to the affidavit. Officers got the victim out of the residence through the window, and she was taken to a hospital where she was later pronounced dead.
A witness told police she was in a bedroom talking to the victim when Maiden walked in and shot her unprovoked with a handgun, according to the affidavit. The witness said Maiden stood over the victim and shot her two more times after she fell to the ground.
The witness said she hit Maiden in the head and face and was able to get the gun out of his hand and call the police. After a nearly nine-hour standoff, officers found Maiden in the basement of the home suffering from injuries to his head and face, according to the affidavit. Police said Maiden appeared to be under the influence of alcohol.
He was taken to a hospital for treatment, and upon his release, was interviewed by police.
Maiden’s interview with police
Maiden allegedly told police he was in the living room attempting to install a ceiling fan and that one of the witnesses had the victim’s handgun. Allegedly, she began spinning the handgun around her finger, and it discharged twice, striking the victim, he said.
Maiden said he attempted to take the gun from her but was unable to disarm her. The witness allegedly began hitting him with the firearm, so he went to the basement, he told police. He said he fell asleep there and was awoken by a member of the Kansas City Police Department.
At the scene, police found a pool of blood on the floor in a bedroom, the affidavit said. Officers found two 9mm shell casings and one live 9mm round in the hallway outside of the bedroom. Two bullet holes were located in the floor of the hallway, according to the affidavit.
Two more spent 9mm casings were found in the living room, along with a live 9mm round, police said. Officers found a black 9mm handgun in the living room.
Maiden was indicted by a grand jury on the charges on Aug. 15.
His sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.
This story was originally published November 16, 2024 at 11:23 AM.
