Man pleads no contest to murder in connection with shooting outside Lenexa McDonald’s
A man charged in connection with a fatal shooting at a Lenexa McDonald’s pleaded no contest to second-degree murder last week, according to Johnson County District Court records.
Dmariea V. Avance, 24, entered the plea Thursday after he had previously told police he acted in self-defense, according to court records.
A no contest plea means the defendant neither admits nor denies charges against them, but still accepts the court’s conviction and sentencing as if they are guilty.
Officers responded around 7 p.m. on Jan. 13 to the McDonald’s at 13330 W. 87th St. Parkway, where they found Markese Gleghorn, 21, shot inside a Honda Odyssey in the parking lot, according to Officer Danny Chavez, a spokesman for the Lenexa Police Department.
Police pulled Gleghorn’s body, which was lying in the center row between the driver’s seat and front passenger seat, out of the van and attempted life-saving measures, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Shooting suspect claims self-defense
Several shell casings were found inside and around the van, and there was a bullet hole in the rear passenger window, according to court records.
While officers were at the scene, Avance called police and allegedly said he shot someone in self defense and was at a Lenexa apartment, court documents say.
A witness who knew Gleghorn and Avance allegedly told police that she bought marijuana from Avance earlier that day. When Gleghorn told her that he also wanted to buy marijuana, the witness put the two men in touch, according to the affidavit.
Text messages showed that Avance planned to sell Gleghorn a quarter-pound of marijuana for $600, court documents say. Avance allegedly asked an unnamed person to tell Gleghorn to meet him at the McDonald’s, where Avance would be in his van.
When police arrived, Avance and his father met officers outside the apartment, and his father allegedly told police the involved firearm was inside the home. The Honda where Gleghorn’s body was found had been registered in Avance’s father’s name, the affidavit said.
Officers took Avance into custody, and he was initially charged with first-degree murder.
Avance appeared in person for a plea hearing Nov. 21 and pleaded no contest to an amended charge — one count of second-degree murder.
His sentencing hearing is 2:15 p.m. Feb. 3, 2025, in Division 17 of Johnson County District Court.
Previous reporting by The Star’s Andrea Klick contributed to this article.
This story was originally published November 23, 2024 at 10:05 AM.
