Prank turns deadly in New Year’s Day stabbing at Gardner home: Court records
A Gardner man charged with first degree murder is suspected of stabbing a man to death after people drew on him when he passed out on New Year’s Day, according to court documents.
Kavin B. Moreno, 34, is accused in the killing of 28-year-old Jason Rosado on Jan. 1. Officers responded around 1:46 a.m. to a residence in the 16900 block of Walter Street in Gardner.
When officers arrived, they heard a woman screaming “help him,” “get paper towels” and “get off him,” according to an affidavit filed in Johnson County District Court. Moreno opened the door and asked officers, “please... help him.”
Officers saw Rosado on the ground with a knife in his back just inside the door, the affidavit said. Officers asked where the suspect was, and a woman at the scene pointed to Moreno, according to the affidavit.
As officers put Moreno into handcuffs, he allegedly said that Rosado fell and that “it was an accident.”
Paramedics responded to the scene and pronounced Rosado dead at 2 a.m.
Fight allegedly broke out after prank
In an interview with police, a woman told officers Moreno lived at the residence where the stabbing happened.
The woman told officers that Moreno had been heavily intoxicated that night and passed out on the floor. She said someone then decided to play a prank on Moreno and draw on his body, according to the affidavit.
When Moreno woke up and realized they drew on him, he became enraged and chased the woman across the house, she told officers.
At first, the woman said she didn’t realize Moreno was upset, as she and Moreno would pick on each other playfully. Later, she realized Moreno appeared to be angry and aggressive toward her, the affidavit said.
The woman told police Moreno broke down a bedroom door. Officers noticed damage to the door at the scene, the affidavit said. The woman said she and Rosado then went into the bedroom to try and calm Moreno down.
The woman told police she heard Moreno say he was going to kill everyone in the house, the affidavit said. At one point, Moreno allegedly grabbed a handgun, but the woman said she was able to get it away from him and hide it in a closet, according to police statements.
Officers found the handgun where the woman said it was hidden in the home.
The argument continued as the woman, Rosado and Moreno went into the kitchen, the affidavit said. The woman told officers she saw Moreno grab a knife from a drawer. She moved toward him and yelled to Rosado saying Moreno had a knife.
Rosado got between Moreno and the woman, then Moreno allegedly stabbed Rosado with a large knife.
Moreno’s statements to police
According to court documents, Moreno asked police several times if Rosado was OK during interviews at the police station. The affidavit stated Moreno said, “Please be OK,” “Is my brother OK? That’s all I care about.”
Moreno also said, “He jumped me,” and “What happened? I’m very concerned,” according to the affidavit.
According to online court records, Moreno is due to appear in court 9:30 a.m. Jan. 22 for a preliminary hearing. A hearing scheduled for Jan. 15 was continued.
If convicted, Moreno could face up to life in prison for a first-degree murder charge.
