Arraignments held for suspects in killing of 6-year-old Angel Hooper
The accused killers of a 6-year-old Kansas City girl were arraigned Thursday in Jackson County Circuit Court.
Leandre L. Smith and Howard K. Chase IV made separate brief appearances before Associate Circuit Judge Mary F. Weir the day after they were charged with second-degree murder in the Oct. 17 shooting death of Angel Hooper.
Angel was killed by a bullet fired from a passing car as she and her father left a convenience store at 107th Street and Blue Ridge Blvd.
Smith, 21, and Chase, 19, were allegedly firing at the occupants of another car when the little girl was shot, according to court documents filed in Jackson County Circuit Court.
Both men are being held without bond. The next appearance for Chase was scheduled for Dec. 4. Smith will appear next in court on Dec. 15.
Although charges have now been filed, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker said that it is a “very ongoing investigation” and encouraged anyone with information to call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-8477.
| Tony Rizzo, trizzo@kcstar.com
This story was originally published November 13, 2014 at 4:50 PM.