Two charged in shooting death of man in cemetery near Peculiar

Cass County prosecutors have charged two 18-year-old men in the death of a Peculiar man who was found dead in a cemetery last week.

Mathew Volland of Raymore and Tyler Smallwood of Peculiar are charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in the shooting death of Forrest D. Fuller, 25, authorities announced at a news conference Monday morning.

According to court documents, Volland and Fuller had arranged to meet Wednesday at Willis Cemetery east of Peculiar to fight. Smallwood “remained hidden” in Volland’s Chevrolet Blazer after the two arrived at the cemetery. As Volland walked toward Fuller, Smallwood allegedly began shooting at Fuller with a rifle from the passenger window, the documents say.

A witness who discovered the body had heard the shots and seen the Blazer speed away from the cemetery. The witness called the Cass County sheriff’s office about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Based on witness statements, investigators later found a rifle buried in the 8800 block of East 99th Street in Kansas City.

Bond for Volland and Smallwood was set at $500,000, cash only. Volland is being held at the Cass County jail; Smallwood is in custody in Dodge City, Kan., awaiting extradition, authorities said.

This story was originally published June 9, 2014 at 10:16 AM with the headline "Two charged in shooting death of man in cemetery near Peculiar."