KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City-area man has been charged in connection with the double-fatality crash during a police chase, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

Melvin T. Brown, 26, faces two counts of Murder 2nd Degree, Resisting Arrest, Leaving the Scene of an Accident Resulting in Death and Tampering with a Motor Vehicle 1st Degree.

According to court records, on March 22, a police officer followed a vehicle that had, upon check, shown to be stolen, according to Independence Police.

The officer attempted to coordinate the deployment of stop sticks to prevent a pursuit. But the vehicle continued, and a pursuit occurred in Independence, with rates of speed touching 90 mph until a crash occurred at Scott Avenue and Winner Road, when the Jeep driven by the defendant struck a motorcycle, killing driver Jake Jackson Monteer and passenger Jessica Marie Fields. 

The defendant's vehicle continued until officers attempted to stop it again. Officers found that the vehicle was indeed stolen, and an officer observed signs of impairment. A blood sample was taken and a preliminary test showed presence of drugs.&nbsp; &nbsp;Brown is being held on a $300,000 bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679924352207.png" alt="Brown-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Brown-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City-area man has been charged in connection with the double-fatality crash during a police chase, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.Melvin T. Brown, 26, faces two counts of Murder 2nd Degree, Resisting Arrest, Leaving the Scene of an Accident Resulting in Death and Tampering with a Motor Vehicle 1st Degree.According to court records, on March 22, a police officer followed a vehicle that had, upon check, shown to be stolen, according to Independence Police.The officer attempted to coordinate the deployment of stop sticks to prevent a pursuit. But the vehicle continued, and a pursuit occurred in Independence, with rates of speed touching 90 mph until a crash occurred at Scott Avenue and Winner Road, when the Jeep driven by the defendant struck a motorcycle, killing driver Jake Jackson Monteer and passenger Jessica Marie Fields. The defendant's vehicle continued until officers attempted to stop it again. Officers found that the vehicle was indeed stolen, and an officer observed signs of impairment. A blood sample was taken and a preliminary test showed presence of drugs.&nbsp; &nbsp;Brown is being held on a $300,000 bond.

Murder charge: Fleeing driver hit, killed 2 on a motorcycle near KC

RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating alleged identity theft crimes in Manhattan.

Just after 3:30p.m. March 24, officers filed a report for theft by deception, forgery and unlawful computer acts. 

A 68-year-old woman, Capitol Federal Savings and Bluestem Financial Management were listed as the victims when it was reported a 26-year-old man had forged 27 checks made out to himself for over $4,000.

The RCPD reported no additional details and have not reported an arrest.

RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating alleged identity theft crimes in Manhattan.Just after 3:30p.m. March 24, officers filed a report for theft by deception, forgery and unlawful computer acts. A 68-year-old woman, Capitol Federal Savings and Bluestem Financial Management were listed as the victims when it was reported a 26-year-old man had forged 27 checks made out to himself for over $4,000.The RCPD reported no additional details and have not reported an arrest.

RCPD: Man allegedly forged 27 checks

KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man has been charged in the fatal beating and strangulation of Elizabeth Stivers, who was found deceased in the yard of a Northeast Kansas City area residence on March 14, 2023.

According to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker, 24-year-old Darion Hall faces Murder 2nd Degree, Tampering with a Motor Vehicle 1st Degree and Attempted Stealing.

According to court records, Kansas City Police Department officers were dispatched on March 14, 2023 and found a Stivers in the yard. The Jackson County Medical Examiner's Office ruled the death a homicide and the cause was strangulation. 

The day of the homicide, Hall was observed driving his grandfather's truck, a reported stolen vehicle. It was found abandoned near 7th and Norton, about 2 minutes from the victim's residence.

Video also captured him at a drug store on Independence Avenue in which he was involved in a attempted strong arm robbery. Homicide detectives submitted to the crime lab the suspect's clothing for testing. The lab reported that DNA collected from the hoody that the defendant wore when he was arrested was DNA from the victim.&nbsp;

He is being held on a $150,000 bond.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679747905961.png" alt="Hall-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Hall-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man has been charged in the fatal beating and strangulation of Elizabeth Stivers, who was found deceased in the yard of a Northeast Kansas City area residence on March 14, 2023.According to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker, 24-year-old Darion Hall faces Murder 2nd Degree, Tampering with a Motor Vehicle 1st Degree and Attempted Stealing.According to court records, Kansas City Police Department officers were dispatched on March 14, 2023 and found a Stivers in the yard. The Jackson County Medical Examiner's Office ruled the death a homicide and the cause was strangulation. The day of the homicide, Hall was observed driving his grandfather's truck, a reported stolen vehicle. It was found abandoned near 7th and Norton, about 2 minutes from the victim's residence.Video also captured him at a drug store on Independence Avenue in which he was involved in a attempted strong arm robbery. Homicide detectives submitted to the crime lab the suspect's clothing for testing. The lab reported that DNA collected from the hoody that the defendant wore when he was arrested was DNA from the victim.&nbsp;He is being held on a $150,000 bond.&nbsp;

Man charged in strangulation murder of Kansas City woman

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a homicide in Topeka.

Just after 10 a.m. Sunday, police responded to a shooting in the&nbsp; 1500 Block of SE Quincy in Topeka, according to Police Lt. Donna Eubanks

Police found one victim suffering from a gun shot wound who was pronounced deceased at the scene. Detectives responded to the scene. Police have not released the victim's name, reported an arrest or any additional details.

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a homicide in Topeka.Just after 10 a.m. Sunday, police responded to a shooting in the&nbsp; 1500 Block of SE Quincy in Topeka, according to Police Lt. Donna EubanksPolice found one victim suffering from a gun shot wound who was pronounced deceased at the scene. Detectives responded to the scene. Police have not released the victim's name, reported an arrest or any additional details.

Police investigating weekend Kansas homicide

KANSAS CITY — A Kansas man and woman have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, according to the United State's attorney.

Alonso Alfredo Nunez, also known as “Bullet,” 19, and Jaloany Garcia-Medina, also known as “J. Lo,” 20, were charged in a four-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City on March 14. They were arrested Thursday and had their initial court appearance.

The federal indictment alleges that Nunez and Garcia-Medina participated in a conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl from July 25 to Dec. 18, 2022. In addition to the conspiracy, Nunez and Gacia-Medina are also charged together in one count of distributing fentanyl. Garcia-Medina is also charged with two counts of distributing fentanyl.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664309962436.png" alt="Photo KCPD" />
 <figcaption>Photo KCPD</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY — A Kansas man and woman have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, according to the United State's attorney.Alonso Alfredo Nunez, also known as “Bullet,” 19, and Jaloany Garcia-Medina, also known as “J. Lo,” 20, were charged in a four-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City on March 14. They were arrested Thursday and had their initial court appearance.The federal indictment alleges that Nunez and Garcia-Medina participated in a conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl from July 25 to Dec. 18, 2022. In addition to the conspiracy, Nunez and Gacia-Medina are also charged together in one count of distributing fentanyl. Garcia-Medina is also charged with two counts of distributing fentanyl.

Kan. suspects nicknamed 'Bullet and J. Lo' accused of selling fentanyl

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on multiple charges after a drug bust.

&nbsp;On Wednesday, members of the Topeka Police Department Narcotics Unit&nbsp; and the Shawnee County Drug Task Force served a search warrant in the 1700 Block SE Morrison Street in Topeka related to an ongoing investigation, according to Police Lt. Ronnie Connell.

While conducting the search warrant, officers located methamphetamine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, stolen property and firearms.

As a result, 43-year-old Jason T. Fisher and 38-year-old Carrie Abram were transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections .

They are being held on requested charges of&nbsp;Distribution of methamphetamine Possession of Marijuana, Distribution of drug paraphernalia, Possession of stolen property, Criminal possession of a weapon by a felon, unlawful acquire proceeds from drug transaction, Drug tax stamp, Counterfeiting currency and an Arrest Warrant

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679622907333.png" alt="Fisher has four previous drug convictions, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Fisher has four previous drug convictions, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on multiple charges after a drug bust.&nbsp;On Wednesday, members of the Topeka Police Department Narcotics Unit&nbsp; and the Shawnee County Drug Task Force served a search warrant in the 1700 Block SE Morrison Street in Topeka related to an ongoing investigation, according to Police Lt. Ronnie Connell.While conducting the search warrant, officers located methamphetamine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, stolen property and firearms.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679623014130.png" alt="Abram has three previous drug convictions, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Abram has three previous drug convictions, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>As a result, 43-year-old Jason T. Fisher and 38-year-old Carrie Abram were transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections .They are being held on requested charges of&nbsp;Distribution of methamphetamine Possession of Marijuana, Distribution of drug paraphernalia, Possession of stolen property, Criminal possession of a weapon by a felon, unlawful acquire proceeds from drug transaction, Drug tax stamp, Counterfeiting currency and an Arrest Warrant

Police: Two Kansas felons accused of counterfeiting cash 

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Pennsylvania woman linked to a far-right extremist movement was sentenced on Thursday to three years in prison for storming the U.S. Capitol, where she invaded then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office with other rioters.

Riley June Williams, 23, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was charged but not convicted of helping steal a laptop from Pelosi’s office suite during the riot on Jan. 6, 2021.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-pennsylvania-riots-donald-trump-nancy-pelosi-34be1139127837ec787ea841a01c784e">A federal jury convicted Williams in November</a>&nbsp;of six charges, including a felony count of civil disorder, after a two-week trial. But it deadlocked on two other counts, including “aiding and abetting" the laptop's theft.

Jurors also deadlocked on a charge of obstructing an official proceeding, the Jan. 6 joint session of Congress for certifying President Joe Biden's 2020 electoral victory. Then-Vice President Mike Pence and members of Congress evacuated the House and Senate chambers when rioters attacked the Capitol.

Prosecutors had asked U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson to sentence Williams to seven years and three months in prison.

“Everywhere she went, Williams acted as an accelerant, exacerbating the mayhem. Where others turned back, she pushed forward,”&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.236292/gov.uscourts.dcd.236292.139.0.pdf">prosecutors wrote in a court filing.</a>

Defense lawyers requested a term of imprisonment of one year and one day for Williams, who was 22 in January 2021.

“In some respects, she is starkly different from the average January 6th defendant – particularly given her youth and that she is a female,”&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.236291/gov.uscourts.dcd.236291.137.0.pdf">they wrote</a>. “In other ways she is similar to many of other January 6th defendants with no prior criminal record, that were caught up with the mob that day, acting on impulse and without thought to the consequences of their actions.”

Jackson also sentenced Williams to three years of supervised release after her prison term and ordered her to pay $2,000 in restitution, according to the U.S. attorney's office for the District of Columbia.

Williams was an ardent supporter of the white nationalist “Groyper” movement led by internet personality Nick Fuentes, according to prosecutors. They said Williams was “obsessed" with Fuentes and fixated on baseless claims — amplified by Fuentes — that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Donald Trump.

Williams' attorneys argued that her political beliefs shouldn't be a factor in her sentencing. They said the First Amendment protects her interest in Fuentes and his “Groyper Army” of followers.

Fuentes has used his online platform to spew antisemitic and white supremacist rhetoric. In November, former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-kanye-west-entertainment-donald-trump-21ea30fc30a9a97074581015b25e18bf">Trump dined at his Mar-a-Lago club with Fuentes</a>&nbsp;and the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, who is now known as Ye.

Other Fuentes followers have been charged with Jan. 6-related crimes, including former UCLA student Christian Secor, who waved a flag associated with Fuentes’ movement when he entered the Capitol. Secor was sentenced last year to three years and six months in prison.

Williams wore a green “I’m with Groyper” T-shirt when she traveled to Washington, D.C., with her father and his friends on Jan. 6. They attended Trump's “Stop the Steal” rally before heading to the Capitol. Williams entered the building through the Senate Wing Door two minutes after other rioters breached the entrance.

Williams used men wearing helmets and body armor like a “human battering ram,” pushing them forward to break through police lines inside the Capitol, prosecutors said. Entering Pelosi's main conference room, she stole a gavel and encouraged another rioter to take a laptop from atop a table, according to prosecutors.

“As the other rioter later manipulated the laptop and its cords, Williams filmed the theft that she had just commanded and encouraged, and further instructed the rioter, 'Dude, put on gloves!'” prosecutors wrote.

Williams then went to the Rotunda, where she shouted insults at police and urged other rioters to join her in pushing against officers.

Williams spent roughly 90 minutes in the Capitol. After leaving, she climbed on the roof of a parked police car.

Williams destroyed evidence before her arrest, deleting her social media accounts, resetting her iPhone and using software to wipe her computer, according to prosecutors.

Williams bragged online that she stole Pelosi’s gavel, laptop and hard drives and that she “gave the electronic devices, or attempted to give them, to unspecified Russian individuals,” prosecutors said in a June 2022 court filing.

“To date, neither the laptop nor the gavel has been recovered,” they added.

A witness described as a former romantic partner of Williams told the FBI that she intended to send the stolen laptop or hard drive to a friend in Russia who planned to sell it to Russia’s foreign intelligence service. But the witness said Williams kept the device or destroyed it when the transfer fell through, according to the FBI.

When the FBI questioned her, Williams denied stealing the laptop. She accused an ex-boyfriend of fabricating the allegation.

Williams was taken into custody after the jury convicted her on Nov. 21.

<a href="https://interactives.ap.org/jan-6-prosecutions/">Approximately 1,000 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the Capitol riot.</a>&nbsp;More than 400 have been sentenced, with over half of them receiving terms of imprisonment ranging from seven days to 10 years.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679667473441.png" alt="Williams-photo&nbsp;(Dauphin County&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Williams-photo&nbsp;(Dauphin County&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — A Pennsylvania woman linked to a far-right extremist movement was sentenced on Thursday to three years in prison for storming the U.S. Capitol, where she invaded then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office with other rioters.Riley June Williams, 23, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was charged but not convicted of helping steal a laptop from Pelosi’s office suite during the riot on Jan. 6, 2021.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-pennsylvania-riots-donald-trump-nancy-pelosi-34be1139127837ec787ea841a01c784e">A federal jury convicted Williams in November</a>&nbsp;of six charges, including a felony count of civil disorder, after a two-week trial. But it deadlocked on two other counts, including “aiding and abetting" the laptop's theft.Jurors also deadlocked on a charge of obstructing an official proceeding, the Jan. 6 joint session of Congress for certifying President Joe Biden's 2020 electoral victory. Then-Vice President Mike Pence and members of Congress evacuated the House and Senate chambers when rioters attacked the Capitol.Prosecutors had asked U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson to sentence Williams to seven years and three months in prison.“Everywhere she went, Williams acted as an accelerant, exacerbating the mayhem. Where others turned back, she pushed forward,”&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.236292/gov.uscourts.dcd.236292.139.0.pdf">prosecutors wrote in a court filing.</a>Defense lawyers requested a term of imprisonment of one year and one day for Williams, who was 22 in January 2021.“In some respects, she is starkly different from the average January 6th defendant – particularly given her youth and that she is a female,”&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.236291/gov.uscourts.dcd.236291.137.0.pdf">they wrote</a>. “In other ways she is similar to many of other January 6th defendants with no prior criminal record, that were caught up with the mob that day, acting on impulse and without thought to the consequences of their actions.”Jackson also sentenced Williams to three years of supervised release after her prison term and ordered her to pay $2,000 in restitution, according to the U.S. attorney's office for the District of Columbia.Williams was an ardent supporter of the white nationalist “Groyper” movement led by internet personality Nick Fuentes, according to prosecutors. They said Williams was “obsessed" with Fuentes and fixated on baseless claims — amplified by Fuentes — that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Donald Trump.Williams' attorneys argued that her political beliefs shouldn't be a factor in her sentencing. They said the First Amendment protects her interest in Fuentes and his “Groyper Army” of followers.Fuentes has used his online platform to spew antisemitic and white supremacist rhetoric. In November, former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-kanye-west-entertainment-donald-trump-21ea30fc30a9a97074581015b25e18bf">Trump dined at his Mar-a-Lago club with Fuentes</a>&nbsp;and the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, who is now known as Ye.Other Fuentes followers have been charged with Jan. 6-related crimes, including former UCLA student Christian Secor, who waved a flag associated with Fuentes’ movement when he entered the Capitol. Secor was sentenced last year to three years and six months in prison.Williams wore a green “I’m with Groyper” T-shirt when she traveled to Washington, D.C., with her father and his friends on Jan. 6. They attended Trump's “Stop the Steal” rally before heading to the Capitol. Williams entered the building through the Senate Wing Door two minutes after other rioters breached the entrance.Williams used men wearing helmets and body armor like a “human battering ram,” pushing them forward to break through police lines inside the Capitol, prosecutors said. Entering Pelosi's main conference room, she stole a gavel and encouraged another rioter to take a laptop from atop a table, according to prosecutors.“As the other rioter later manipulated the laptop and its cords, Williams filmed the theft that she had just commanded and encouraged, and further instructed the rioter, 'Dude, put on gloves!'” prosecutors wrote.Williams then went to the Rotunda, where she shouted insults at police and urged other rioters to join her in pushing against officers.Williams spent roughly 90 minutes in the Capitol. After leaving, she climbed on the roof of a parked police car.Williams destroyed evidence before her arrest, deleting her social media accounts, resetting her iPhone and using software to wipe her computer, according to prosecutors.Williams bragged online that she stole Pelosi’s gavel, laptop and hard drives and that she “gave the electronic devices, or attempted to give them, to unspecified Russian individuals,” prosecutors said in a June 2022 court filing.“To date, neither the laptop nor the gavel has been recovered,” they added.A witness described as a former romantic partner of Williams told the FBI that she intended to send the stolen laptop or hard drive to a friend in Russia who planned to sell it to Russia’s foreign intelligence service. But the witness said Williams kept the device or destroyed it when the transfer fell through, according to the FBI.When the FBI questioned her, Williams denied stealing the laptop. She accused an ex-boyfriend of fabricating the allegation.Williams was taken into custody after the jury convicted her on Nov. 21.<a href="https://interactives.ap.org/jan-6-prosecutions/">Approximately 1,000 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the Capitol riot.</a>&nbsp;More than 400 have been sentenced, with over half of them receiving terms of imprisonment ranging from seven days to 10 years.

Jan. 6 rioter charged in theft of Nancy Pelosi's laptop sentenced 

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A motorist fleeing from police in a suspected stolen vehicle has struck and killed two people riding on a motorcycle, authorities say.

The pursuit started Wednesday night when officers spotted the suspicious Jeep Cherokee, Sgt. John Syme, an Independence police spokesman, said Thursday.

The driver is accused of swerving at oncoming vehicles, including a police cruiser, before striking the motorcycle, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article273513570.html">reports</a>. The two victims were not immediately identified.

Instead of stopping, the motorist drove the wrong way on several roadways, including Interstate 70, Syme said. He said an officer eventually used his police vehicle to stop the SUV and arrest the driver, who had minor injuries.

The crash occurred in an area near the Kansas City and Independence city limits, where several other bystanders have been killed or hurt by fleeing motorists in recent years. Some police departments only allow police chases in cases involving violent felonies to reduce the risk of that happening. But Independence has no such restrictions.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A motorist fleeing from police in a suspected stolen vehicle has struck and killed two people riding on a motorcycle, authorities say.The pursuit started Wednesday night when officers spotted the suspicious Jeep Cherokee, Sgt. John Syme, an Independence police spokesman, said Thursday.The driver is accused of swerving at oncoming vehicles, including a police cruiser, before striking the motorcycle, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article273513570.html">reports</a>. The two victims were not immediately identified.Instead of stopping, the motorist drove the wrong way on several roadways, including Interstate 70, Syme said. He said an officer eventually used his police vehicle to stop the SUV and arrest the driver, who had minor injuries.The crash occurred in an area near the Kansas City and Independence city limits, where several other bystanders have been killed or hurt by fleeing motorists in recent years. Some police departments only allow police chases in cases involving violent felonies to reduce the risk of that happening. But Independence has no such restrictions.

Fleeing driver hits, kills 2 on a motorcycle near Kansas City

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man involved in a fatal 2021 crash made a court appearance last week.

<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20021402">Michael Wayne Walker</a>, 34 of Wichita, is charged with involuntary manslaughter, two counts of aggravated battery, and a misdemeanor count of drive while suspended or canceled, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In May of 2021, police arrested Walker on suspicion of driving while intoxicated and causing a crash that killed 74-year-old Rita Hawkins of Wichita seriously injuring others.

A vehicle driven by Walker was on the wrong side of the road when the crash occurred, according to Office Charley Davidson. EMS transported Hawkins and two others to hospitals where she died.

Walker is due back in court March 27. He is being held on a $100,000 bond, according to the district attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679154950580.png" alt="Walker-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Walker-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man involved in a fatal 2021 crash made a court appearance last week.<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20021402">Michael Wayne Walker</a>, 34 of Wichita, is charged with involuntary manslaughter, two counts of aggravated battery, and a misdemeanor count of drive while suspended or canceled, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. In May of 2021, police arrested Walker on suspicion of driving while intoxicated and causing a crash that killed 74-year-old Rita Hawkins of Wichita seriously injuring others.A vehicle driven by Walker was on the wrong side of the road when the crash occurred, according to Office Charley Davidson. EMS transported Hawkins and two others to hospitals where she died.Walker is due back in court March 27. He is being held on a $100,000 bond, according to the district attorney's office.

Kansas man charged in crash that killed 74-year-old woman

By SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/03/22/after-weeks-of-waiting-kansas-survivors-of-child-sex-abuse-eager-for-legislative-hearing/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Every week since the beginning of the legislative session in
 January, survivors of childhood sexual abuse have staffed a table near 
the main public entrance to the Statehouse.

Every week, they have met with senators and representatives, working 
toward a compromise on legislation that would remove barriers for other 
survivors who seek justice through criminal charges and civil 
litigation.

Every week goes by without a hearing on the bill.

This week, on Thursday, a Senate panel finally plans to hold a hearing on legislation that remains a work in progress. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb317/">Senate Bill 317</a>
 would establish a legal climate in Kansas where there is no statute of 
limitations on criminal charges, and where survivors could seek damages 
through civil cases until they turn 31 years old. Under current law, 
children who are victimized by coaches, priests, family members and 
others must file a lawsuit before the age of 21.

Four survivors — Kim Bergman, Tess Ramirez, Lesa Patterson-Kinsey and Joe Cheray — have been prominent fixtures in <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/01/13/survivors-of-sexual-abuse-plead-for-changes-in-kansas-law-that-protects-pedophiles/">the fight for legal reforms</a>,
 although they are joined behind the scenes by dozens of others who long
 for change. The four spoke with Kansas Reflector on Tuesday about their
 concerns with delays in getting a hearing on the bill, and about the 
impact of their work.

They appear at their table armed with educational materials, images 
of themselves as children, and courage. Frequently, others approach them
 to share stories of their own traumatic experience.

After spending a day at the Statehouse, Ramirez said, she basically 
sits on her couch and does nothing the next day “because it’s so 
emotionally tolling that I’m exhausted.”

“It is triggering. It’s hard — still in therapy, probably will be 
there forever to process these things,” Ramirez said. “But in those 
moments, you just want to be there to support that person that’s telling
 the story, because you may be the first person that they’ve told. So in
 that moment, you’re just a sounding board, and you just try to provide 
them a little bit of comfort.”

Bergman said it is “sad and frustrating that people are having to come to us in this situation.”

“We can’t even get a hearing to be able to help people like this,” 
Bergman said. “So, you know, I just — I don’t know. I’ve kind of gotten 
to the frustrated point that I just want a hearing. I want an 
opportunity to be able to share our stories.”

Bergman said she was trying to tame her frustration because she has 
been encouraged by Senate President Ty Masterson’s willingness to 
negotiate.

Past efforts to change Kansas law received hearings in the House but 
met resistance in the Senate. This year, House leaders made it clear 
that any legislation would need to clear Senate hurdles before House 
consideration.

Those hurdles include educating lawmakers on the reality that 
survivors may not be ready to disclose their abuse until they are, on 
average, in their 50s. Some lawmakers simply aren’t comfortable talking 
about the subject. There are misconceptions about false allegations. 
Police were concerned about being blamed for not gathering evidence in 
old crimes.

Then there are discreet lobbying efforts by the Catholic Church, 
which could be vulnerable to lawsuits from years of clergy abuse 
confirmed by <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/01/06/kansas-catholic-clergy-sexual-abuse-investigation-targets-14-suspects-prosecutions-unlikely/">a Kansas Bureau of Investigation report</a> released in January.

Chuck Weber, executive director of the Kansas Catholic Conference, declined to talk about proposed legislation for this story.

“Not to you, I’m not going to talk,” Weber said. “You are an unfair reporter. You are biased.”

Survivors had hoped to remove the statute of limitations entirely, 
but they agreed to extend the age by 10 years as part of the 
negotiations in recent weeks.

Still,&nbsp;Cheray said, it felt like lawmakers were trying to “run out the clock” on the session.

“This has been our whole life, having to fight to be heard,” Cheray 
said. “We are making strides. We are a lot further now than we were, 
say, four years ago.”

Sen. Usha Reddi, a first-term Democrat from Manhattan, has worked to advance legislation on behalf of survivors. She <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/politics/state/2020/02/15/secrets-in-our-culture-victims-of-child-sex-abuse-urge-lawmakers-to-take-action/1699685007/">testified in support of similar legislation</a>
 in 2020, when she revealed her father had abused her as a child. At the
 age of 53, she had been able to pursue criminal charges in Virginia.

In an interview for this story, Reddi said she and her brother went 
to her mother’s house when her father was getting arrested, thinking 
they would take her home to live together.

“First thing she said is, ‘Get your dad out of jail.’ So that’s when 
you know, wow, if I did this when I was 8, 9 years old, it would not 
have been very different,” Reddi said. “So I think if that’s happening 
within my own family, how does the Legislature address any of this?

“They still make the person coming out feel like, well, why are you 
doing it now? What are you going to gain from it? Are you going to write
 a book? How are you going to get rich? They see all these ulterior 
motives, even if there isn’t any. And I think that’s what pushes the 
actual conversation aside.”

Reddi said the KBI’s clergy abuse report, which identified 188 
suspects of “criminal acts,” helped create momentum behind legislation 
this session because it showed widespread abuse. She has tried to make 
it clear that this isn’t just about clergy — children can be preyed upon
 by coaches, teachers and others.

“They’re not creepy old men in the woods,” Reddi said. “These are 
people that we work with and trust. And I think that’s the piece that 
people can’t get past.”

Sen. Cindy Holscher, D-Overland Park, said it has been difficult to build support from lawmakers for the bill.

“This isn’t necessarily a topic that people are comfortable talking 
about,” Holscher said. “We’ve had to bring it forward, the survivors 
coming every week talking to legislators.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679496524262.png" alt="Child sex abuse survivors (from left) Tess Ramirez, Joe Cheray, Lesa Patterson-Kinsey and Kim Bergman appear at their advocacy table March 21, 2023, at the Statehouse in Topeka. They have appeared at the Statehouse and met with lawmakers every week since the start of the session in hopes of passing a law to remove barriers to criminal and civil litigation. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Child sex abuse survivors (from left) Tess Ramirez, Joe Cheray, Lesa Patterson-Kinsey and Kim Bergman appear at their advocacy table March 21, 2023, at the Statehouse in Topeka. They have appeared at the Statehouse and met with lawmakers every week since the start of the session in hopes of passing a law to remove barriers to criminal and civil litigation. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/03/22/after-weeks-of-waiting-kansas-survivors-of-child-sex-abuse-eager-for-legislative-hearing/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Every week since the beginning of the legislative session in
 January, survivors of childhood sexual abuse have staffed a table near 
the main public entrance to the Statehouse.Every week, they have met with senators and representatives, working 
toward a compromise on legislation that would remove barriers for other 
survivors who seek justice through criminal charges and civil 
litigation.Every week goes by without a hearing on the bill.They are frustrated.This week, on Thursday, a Senate panel finally plans to hold a hearing on legislation that remains a work in progress. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/sb317/">Senate Bill 317</a>
 would establish a legal climate in Kansas where there is no statute of 
limitations on criminal charges, and where survivors could seek damages 
through civil cases until they turn 31 years old. Under current law, 
children who are victimized by coaches, priests, family members and 
others must file a lawsuit before the age of 21.Four survivors — Kim Bergman, Tess Ramirez, Lesa Patterson-Kinsey and Joe Cheray — have been prominent fixtures in <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/01/13/survivors-of-sexual-abuse-plead-for-changes-in-kansas-law-that-protects-pedophiles/">the fight for legal reforms</a>,
 although they are joined behind the scenes by dozens of others who long
 for change. The four spoke with Kansas Reflector on Tuesday about their
 concerns with delays in getting a hearing on the bill, and about the 
impact of their work.They appear at their table armed with educational materials, images 
of themselves as children, and courage. Frequently, others approach them
 to share stories of their own traumatic experience.After spending a day at the Statehouse, Ramirez said, she basically 
sits on her couch and does nothing the next day “because it’s so 
emotionally tolling that I’m exhausted.”“It is triggering. It’s hard — still in therapy, probably will be 
there forever to process these things,” Ramirez said. “But in those 
moments, you just want to be there to support that person that’s telling
 the story, because you may be the first person that they’ve told. So in
 that moment, you’re just a sounding board, and you just try to provide 
them a little bit of comfort.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679496591564.png" alt="Kim Bergman stands next to a chart that shows how most of her abuser’s victims were unable to seek justice because of the statute of limitations on child sex crimes and civil litigation in Kansas. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Kim Bergman stands next to a chart that shows how most of her abuser’s victims were unable to seek justice because of the statute of limitations on child sex crimes and civil litigation in Kansas. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>Bergman said it is “sad and frustrating that people are having to come to us in this situation.”“We can’t even get a hearing to be able to help people like this,” 
Bergman said. “So, you know, I just — I don’t know. I’ve kind of gotten 
to the frustrated point that I just want a hearing. I want an 
opportunity to be able to share our stories.”Bergman said she was trying to tame her frustration because she has 
been encouraged by Senate President Ty Masterson’s willingness to 
negotiate.Past efforts to change Kansas law received hearings in the House but 
met resistance in the Senate. This year, House leaders made it clear 
that any legislation would need to clear Senate hurdles before House 
consideration.Those hurdles include educating lawmakers on the reality that 
survivors may not be ready to disclose their abuse until they are, on 
average, in their 50s. Some lawmakers simply aren’t comfortable talking 
about the subject. There are misconceptions about false allegations. 
Police were concerned about being blamed for not gathering evidence in 
old crimes.Then there are discreet lobbying efforts by the Catholic Church, 
which could be vulnerable to lawsuits from years of clergy abuse 
confirmed by <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/01/06/kansas-catholic-clergy-sexual-abuse-investigation-targets-14-suspects-prosecutions-unlikely/">a Kansas Bureau of Investigation report</a> released in January.Chuck Weber, executive director of the Kansas Catholic Conference, declined to talk about proposed legislation for this story.“Not to you, I’m not going to talk,” Weber said. “You are an unfair reporter. You are biased.”Survivors had hoped to remove the statute of limitations entirely, 
but they agreed to extend the age by 10 years as part of the 
negotiations in recent weeks.Still,&nbsp;Cheray said, it felt like lawmakers were trying to “run out the clock” on the session.“This has been our whole life, having to fight to be heard,” Cheray 
said. “We are making strides. We are a lot further now than we were, 
say, four years ago.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679496629215.png" alt="Sen. Usha Reddi says abusers are “people that we work with and trust,” not just “creepy old men in the woods.” (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Sen. Usha Reddi says abusers are “people that we work with and trust,” not just “creepy old men in the woods.” (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>Sen. Usha Reddi, a first-term Democrat from Manhattan, has worked to advance legislation on behalf of survivors. She <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/politics/state/2020/02/15/secrets-in-our-culture-victims-of-child-sex-abuse-urge-lawmakers-to-take-action/1699685007/">testified in support of similar legislation</a>
 in 2020, when she revealed her father had abused her as a child. At the
 age of 53, she had been able to pursue criminal charges in Virginia.In an interview for this story, Reddi said she and her brother went 
to her mother’s house when her father was getting arrested, thinking 
they would take her home to live together.“First thing she said is, ‘Get your dad out of jail.’ So that’s when 
you know, wow, if I did this when I was 8, 9 years old, it would not 
have been very different,” Reddi said. “So I think if that’s happening 
within my own family, how does the Legislature address any of this?“They still make the person coming out feel like, well, why are you 
doing it now? What are you going to gain from it? Are you going to write
 a book? How are you going to get rich? They see all these ulterior 
motives, even if there isn’t any. And I think that’s what pushes the 
actual conversation aside.”Reddi said the KBI’s clergy abuse report, which identified 188 
suspects of “criminal acts,” helped create momentum behind legislation 
this session because it showed widespread abuse. She has tried to make 
it clear that this isn’t just about clergy — children can be preyed upon
 by coaches, teachers and others.“They’re not creepy old men in the woods,” Reddi said. “These are 
people that we work with and trust. And I think that’s the piece that 
people can’t get past.”Sen. Cindy Holscher, D-Overland Park, said it has been difficult to build support from lawmakers for the bill.“This isn’t necessarily a topic that people are comfortable talking 
about,” Holscher said. “We’ve had to bring it forward, the survivors 
coming every week talking to legislators.”

Survivors of child sex abuse eager for Kan. legislative hearing

LIBERTY, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri prosecutor has announced plans to seek the death penalty against a Kansas City man charged with fatally shooting a police officer during a traffic stop.

Clay County Prosecutor Zachary Thompson said Tuesday that Joshua Rocha could qualify under Missouri law for the punishment because the July 2022 killing of North Kansas City police officer Daniel Vasquez was "wantonly vile,” the victim was a law enforcement officer and Rocha was seeking to avoid arrest.

Rocha is charged with first degree murder and armed criminal action in the killing.

According to a probable cause statement, Rocha told police after his arrest that he shot the 32-year-old officer because he didn’t want to go to jail or have his vehicle towed.

Rocha told police he was on his way to buy ammunition for a rifle he had in the vehicle when he was stopped.

Vasquez’s dashcam video shows Rocha shooting the officer once in the face after partially opening the car door, then stepping out and firing two more shots at Vasquez, who was lying on the ground, according to the statement.

The prosecutor’s office has not pursued the death penalty for a defendant since 1994, about 28 years ago, Thompson said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658339821213.png" alt="Rocha-photo Clay Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Rocha-photo Clay Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>LIBERTY, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri prosecutor has announced plans to seek the death penalty against a Kansas City man charged with fatally shooting a police officer during a traffic stop.Clay County Prosecutor Zachary Thompson said Tuesday that Joshua Rocha could qualify under Missouri law for the punishment because the July 2022 killing of North Kansas City police officer Daniel Vasquez was "wantonly vile,” the victim was a law enforcement officer and Rocha was seeking to avoid arrest.Rocha is charged with first degree murder and armed criminal action in the killing.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658265015795.png" alt="Daniel Vasquez-photo North Kansas City Police" />
 <figcaption>Daniel Vasquez-photo North Kansas City Police</figcaption>
 </figure>According to a probable cause statement, Rocha told police after his arrest that he shot the 32-year-old officer because he didn’t want to go to jail or have his vehicle towed.Rocha told police he was on his way to buy ammunition for a rifle he had in the vehicle when he was stopped.Vasquez’s dashcam video shows Rocha shooting the officer once in the face after partially opening the car door, then stepping out and firing two more shots at Vasquez, who was lying on the ground, according to the statement.The prosecutor’s office has not pursued the death penalty for a defendant since 1994, about 28 years ago, Thompson said.

Prosecutor to seek death penalty in Kansas City officer's death

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal accident and have identified 2-year-old&nbsp;as Ximena Perez of Topeka as the child who died.&nbsp;

The accident occurred Tuesday afternoon in the 3100 block of SE California Avenue, according to Police Spokesperson Rosie Nichols. 

A vehicle struck the girl and she died from the injuries.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Topeka Police Department made contact with all individuals involved and no arrests have been made. Upon conclusion of the investigation, police will present the accident findings to the District Attorney’s office for any charging consideration.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679425013324.png" alt="First responders near the fatal accident scene-photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>First responders near the fatal accident scene-photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal accident and have identified 2-year-old&nbsp;as Ximena Perez of Topeka as the child who died.&nbsp;The accident occurred Tuesday afternoon in the 3100 block of SE California Avenue, according to Police Spokesperson Rosie Nichols. A vehicle struck the girl and she died from the injuries.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Topeka Police Department made contact with all individuals involved and no arrests have been made. Upon conclusion of the investigation, police will present the accident findings to the District Attorney’s office for any charging consideration.

Investigation of accident that killed 2-year-old Kan. girl continues

MIAMI &amp; LINN COUNTY&nbsp;–&nbsp;On Wednesday morning, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), the Miami County Sheriff’s Office, the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, the Osawatomie Police Department, and the Pleasanton Police Department arrested six individuals in Miami and Linn counties for distribution of methamphetamine and other charges, according to a media release from the KBI.

The investigation began in December of 2022, when the Osawatomie Police Department developed information about area drug sales. Then, on Wednesday, March 22, between 6 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., KBI agents and investigators executed search warrants and arrest warrants at a residence in rural Osawatomie, Kansas, and at two residences in La Cygne, Kansas. 

During the searches, law enforcement located methamphetamine and over $12,000 in cash. During the joint investigation, over 1.5 pounds of methamphetamine was seized, some of which is believed to contain fentanyl.

Bernie E. Stuteville, 60, of La Cygne, was arrested on a requested charge of distribution of a controlled substance, conspiracy, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Charles Eslick Jr., 49, of Osawatomie, was arrested on a requested charge of distribution of a controlled substance, conspiracy, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, and distribution or possession of a controlled substance using a communication facility.

Deanne Burkhart, 55, of Osawatomie, was arrested on a requested charge of distribution of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Julia R. Spears, 50, of Osawatomie, was arrested on a requested charge of distribution of a controlled substance, conspiracy, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Danny R. Harper, 58, of Osawatomie, was arrested&nbsp;on a requested charge of of controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Cindy M. Ballou, 45, of Osawatomie, was arrested during the search warrant for having outstanding warrants for driving while suspended with no proof of insurance.

Following their arrests, the subjects were each booked into the Miami County Jail. Formal charges are pending. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Also assisting in this investigation were Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP), the La Cygne Police Department, the Ottawa Police Department, and the Paola Police Department. The investigation is ongoing.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679566267770.png" alt="Stuteville has four previous drug conviction, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections" />
 <figcaption>Stuteville has four previous drug conviction, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections</figcaption>
 </figure>MIAMI &amp; LINN COUNTY&nbsp;–&nbsp;On Wednesday morning, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), the Miami County Sheriff’s Office, the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, the Osawatomie Police Department, and the Pleasanton Police Department arrested six individuals in Miami and Linn counties for distribution of methamphetamine and other charges, according to a media release from the KBI.The investigation began in December of 2022, when the Osawatomie Police Department developed information about area drug sales. Then, on Wednesday, March 22, between 6 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., KBI agents and investigators executed search warrants and arrest warrants at a residence in rural Osawatomie, Kansas, and at two residences in La Cygne, Kansas. During the searches, law enforcement located methamphetamine and over $12,000 in cash. During the joint investigation, over 1.5 pounds of methamphetamine was seized, some of which is believed to contain fentanyl.Six subjects were arrested.Bernie E. Stuteville, 60, of La Cygne, was arrested on a requested charge of distribution of a controlled substance, conspiracy, and possession of drug paraphernalia.Charles Eslick Jr., 49, of Osawatomie, was arrested on a requested charge of distribution of a controlled substance, conspiracy, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, and distribution or possession of a controlled substance using a communication facility.Deanne Burkhart, 55, of Osawatomie, was arrested on a requested charge of distribution of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.Julia R. Spears, 50, of Osawatomie, was arrested on a requested charge of distribution of a controlled substance, conspiracy, and possession of drug paraphernalia.Danny R. Harper, 58, of Osawatomie, was arrested&nbsp;on a requested charge of of controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.Cindy M. Ballou, 45, of Osawatomie, was arrested during the search warrant for having outstanding warrants for driving while suspended with no proof of insurance.Following their arrests, the subjects were each booked into the Miami County Jail. Formal charges are pending. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.Also assisting in this investigation were Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP), the La Cygne Police Department, the Ottawa Police Department, and the Paola Police Department. The investigation is ongoing.

KBI: Drug operation finds meth with fentanyl, $12,000 cash

DENVER (AP) — A body found in the Colorado woods near an abandoned car was that of a 17-year-old student accused of wounding two administrators in a shooting at his Denver high school, a coroner's office said.

Park County Sheriff Tom McGraw said the body was discovered Wednesday not far from the student's car in a remote mountain area about 50 miles (80 kilometers) southwest of Denver, near the small town of Bailey, in Park County. The town had been ordered to shelter in place while while officers from a number of agencies including the FBI combed the forest.

Earlier in the day, Denver police identified the suspect as Austin Lyle. The Park County coroner's office confirmed in a Facebook post that the body was that of Lyle's. Cause of death wasn't released, pending the completion of an autopsy.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shooting-east-high-school-denver-b7db159105dcaea44a816a8841ffd965">shooting occurred at East High School</a>&nbsp;in Denver, not far from downtown, while two administrators searched Lyle for weapons, a daily requirement because of the boy’s behavioral issues, authorities said. Lyle fled after the shooting.

It occurred at a school shaken by frequent lockdowns and violence, including the recent killing outside the school of a classmate that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/teen-gun-violence-denver-march-20b6acfd88edbc6e5c949a08aba45941">prompted East High School students to march</a>&nbsp;on the Colorado Capitol earlier this month. Parents who converged on the 2,500-student campus on Wednesday voiced frustration that officials had not done enough to protect their children.

“I am sick of it,” said Jesse Haase, who planned to talk with her daughter about taking her out of classes for the rest of the school year.

Amid the flurry of criticism over lax security, Denver school officials said after the shooting that they would once again put armed officers into the city’s public high schools.

There were no school resource officers on campus at the time of Wednesday’s shooting, said Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/school-shootings">shooting</a>&nbsp;happened just before 10 a.m. in an office area as Lyle was undergoing a search as part of a “safety plan" that required him to be patted down daily, officials said.

The gun used in the shooting was not immediately recovered, Thomas said.

One of the wounded administrators was released from the hospital Wednesday afternoon and the second was in serious condition, said Heather Burke, a spokesperson for Denver Health hospital.

Hundreds of students on March 3 skipped class and marched in support of stricter gun laws following the death of Luis Garcia, 16, who was shot while sitting in a car near East High School.

In June 2020, amid a summer of protests over racial injustice following the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-us-news-ap-top-news-hip-hop-and-rap-houston-a55d2662f200ead0da4fed9e923b60a7">murder of George Floyd</a>, Denver Public Schools became one of the districts around the US that decided to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-ap-top-news-wisconsin-az-state-wire-racial-injustice-bc5b750085a89e03e132d7d3dda09a99">phase out its use of police officers in school buildings</a>. That push was fueled by criticism that school resource officers disproportionately arrested Black students, sweeping them into the criminal justice system.

After Wednesday’s shooting, two armed officers will be posted at East High School through the end of the school year, and other city high schools also will each get an officer, said Denver Public Schools Superintendent Alex Marrero.

In a Wednesday letter to the city's Board of Education, Marrero said his decision violated district's policies but added he “can no longer stand on the sidelines.”

“I am the leader of this district who is charged with keeping our scholars and staff safe every day,” he wrote. The school board said it supported the decision.

Gun violence at schools has become&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uvalde-school-shooting-health-texas-violence-928c177ee8e09b59507c88d9c5b6ce51">increasingly common</a>&nbsp;in the U.S. with more than 1,300 shooting incidents recorded between 2000 and June 2022, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.chds.us/sssc/data-map/">government researchers</a>. Those shootings killed 377 people and wounded 1,025, according to a database maintained by the researchers.

Students from East High School had been scheduled to testify Wednesday afternoon before the Colorado Legislature on gun safety bills.

“This is the reality of being young in America: sitting through a shooting and waiting for information just hours before you’re scheduled to testify in support of gun safety bills,” said Gracie Taub, a 16-year-old East High School sophomore and volunteer with Students Demand Action in Colorado.

Lyle transferred to East High School after being disciplined and removed from a high school in nearby Aurora last school year because of unspecified violations of school policies, said Cherry Creek School District spokesperson Lauren Snell.

Marrero said safety plans for students are enacted in response to “past educational and also behavioral experiences,” adding that it’s a common practice throughout Colorado’s public schools. Officials did not give further details on why Lyle was searched daily.

But daily pat downs are rare, said Franci Crepeau-Hobson, a University of Colorado Denver professor specializing in school violence prevention.

“Clearly they were concerned,” said Crepeau-Hobson. “I can’t imagine they’d do that if there wasn’t a history of the kid carrying a weapon.”

Safety plans often follow threatening or suicidal behavior from a student, said Christine Harms with the Colorado School Safety Resource Center.

In response to the shooting, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre repeated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-guns-mass-shooting-monterey-park-uvalde-489c236fd6ed12ab5d74a67ce5ecd501">President Joe Biden’s calls for stricter gun laws</a>, including bans on assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines, and for Congress to “do something” on gun control.

Wednesday was also the second anniversary of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/boulder-supermarket-shooting">10 people being shot and killed</a>&nbsp;at a supermarket in Boulder, Colorado.

DENVER (AP) — A body was found Wednesday night in the Colorado woods near the abandoned car that belonged to a 17-year-old student accused of shooting two administrators at his Denver high school earlier in the day, a sheriff said.

Park County Sheriff Tom McGraw said the body was discovered not far from the car in a remote mountain area about 50 miles (80 kilometers) southwest of Denver, near the small town of Bailey, in Park County. The town had been ordered to shelter in place while while officers from a number of agencies including the FBI combed the forest.

But, authorities said they have not yet identified who it was and McGraw declined to say if it was a man or reveal the cause of death.

Earlier in the day, Denver police identified the suspect as Austin Lyle.

The shooting occurred at East High School in Denver while two administrators searched Lyle for weapons, a daily requirement because of the boy’s behavioral issues, authorities said. Lyle fled after the shooting.

It occurred at a school shaken by frequent lockdowns and violence, including the recent killing outside the school of a classmate that prompted East High School students to march on the Colorado Capitol earlier this month. Parents who converged on the 2,500-student campus on Wednesday voiced frustration that officials had not done enough to protect their children.

One of the wounded administrators was released from the hospital Wednesday afternoon and the second remained in serious condition, said Heather Burke, a spokesperson for Denver Health hospital.

East High School, not far from downtown, was locked down as police investigated the shooting, and hundreds of parents lined up along a road outside the school.

Some parents and students vented frustration over violence at the school as they surrounded the police chief. Thomas listened quietly, nodding and promising to engage with the school board.

At the edge of the crowd, a man said the city's school board members should be recalled for getting rid of police in school, telling a nearby officer “I just want you to be able to do your job.”

In response to the shooting, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre repeated President Joe Biden’s called for stricter gun laws, including bans on assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines, and for Congress to “do something” on gun control.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679508065013.png" alt="The school, not far from downtown near a busy street that cuts through the city, was placed on lockdown as police investigated the shooting.-photo courtesy KMGH-TV" />
 <figcaption>The school, not far from downtown near a busy street that cuts through the city, was placed on lockdown as police investigated the shooting.-photo courtesy KMGH-TV</figcaption>
 </figure>DENVER (AP) — A body found in the Colorado woods near an abandoned car was that of a 17-year-old student accused of wounding two administrators in a shooting at his Denver high school, a coroner's office said.Park County Sheriff Tom McGraw said the body was discovered Wednesday not far from the student's car in a remote mountain area about 50 miles (80 kilometers) southwest of Denver, near the small town of Bailey, in Park County. The town had been ordered to shelter in place while while officers from a number of agencies including the FBI combed the forest.Earlier in the day, Denver police identified the suspect as Austin Lyle. The Park County coroner's office confirmed in a Facebook post that the body was that of Lyle's. Cause of death wasn't released, pending the completion of an autopsy.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shooting-east-high-school-denver-b7db159105dcaea44a816a8841ffd965">shooting occurred at East High School</a>&nbsp;in Denver, not far from downtown, while two administrators searched Lyle for weapons, a daily requirement because of the boy’s behavioral issues, authorities said. Lyle fled after the shooting.It occurred at a school shaken by frequent lockdowns and violence, including the recent killing outside the school of a classmate that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/teen-gun-violence-denver-march-20b6acfd88edbc6e5c949a08aba45941">prompted East High School students to march</a>&nbsp;on the Colorado Capitol earlier this month. Parents who converged on the 2,500-student campus on Wednesday voiced frustration that officials had not done enough to protect their children.“I am sick of it,” said Jesse Haase, who planned to talk with her daughter about taking her out of classes for the rest of the school year.Amid the flurry of criticism over lax security, Denver school officials said after the shooting that they would once again put armed officers into the city’s public high schools.There were no school resource officers on campus at the time of Wednesday’s shooting, said Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/school-shootings">shooting</a>&nbsp;happened just before 10 a.m. in an office area as Lyle was undergoing a search as part of a “safety plan" that required him to be patted down daily, officials said.The gun used in the shooting was not immediately recovered, Thomas said.One of the wounded administrators was released from the hospital Wednesday afternoon and the second was in serious condition, said Heather Burke, a spokesperson for Denver Health hospital.Hundreds of students on March 3 skipped class and marched in support of stricter gun laws following the death of Luis Garcia, 16, who was shot while sitting in a car near East High School.In June 2020, amid a summer of protests over racial injustice following the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-us-news-ap-top-news-hip-hop-and-rap-houston-a55d2662f200ead0da4fed9e923b60a7">murder of George Floyd</a>, Denver Public Schools became one of the districts around the US that decided to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-ap-top-news-wisconsin-az-state-wire-racial-injustice-bc5b750085a89e03e132d7d3dda09a99">phase out its use of police officers in school buildings</a>. That push was fueled by criticism that school resource officers disproportionately arrested Black students, sweeping them into the criminal justice system.After Wednesday’s shooting, two armed officers will be posted at East High School through the end of the school year, and other city high schools also will each get an officer, said Denver Public Schools Superintendent Alex Marrero.In a Wednesday letter to the city's Board of Education, Marrero said his decision violated district's policies but added he “can no longer stand on the sidelines.”“I am the leader of this district who is charged with keeping our scholars and staff safe every day,” he wrote. The school board said it supported the decision.Gun violence at schools has become&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uvalde-school-shooting-health-texas-violence-928c177ee8e09b59507c88d9c5b6ce51">increasingly common</a>&nbsp;in the U.S. with more than 1,300 shooting incidents recorded between 2000 and June 2022, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.chds.us/sssc/data-map/">government researchers</a>. Those shootings killed 377 people and wounded 1,025, according to a database maintained by the researchers.Students from East High School had been scheduled to testify Wednesday afternoon before the Colorado Legislature on gun safety bills.“This is the reality of being young in America: sitting through a shooting and waiting for information just hours before you’re scheduled to testify in support of gun safety bills,” said Gracie Taub, a 16-year-old East High School sophomore and volunteer with Students Demand Action in Colorado.Lyle transferred to East High School after being disciplined and removed from a high school in nearby Aurora last school year because of unspecified violations of school policies, said Cherry Creek School District spokesperson Lauren Snell.Marrero said safety plans for students are enacted in response to “past educational and also behavioral experiences,” adding that it’s a common practice throughout Colorado’s public schools. Officials did not give further details on why Lyle was searched daily.But daily pat downs are rare, said Franci Crepeau-Hobson, a University of Colorado Denver professor specializing in school violence prevention.“Clearly they were concerned,” said Crepeau-Hobson. “I can’t imagine they’d do that if there wasn’t a history of the kid carrying a weapon.”Safety plans often follow threatening or suicidal behavior from a student, said Christine Harms with the Colorado School Safety Resource Center.In response to the shooting, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre repeated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-guns-mass-shooting-monterey-park-uvalde-489c236fd6ed12ab5d74a67ce5ecd501">President Joe Biden’s calls for stricter gun laws</a>, including bans on assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines, and for Congress to “do something” on gun control.Wednesday was also the second anniversary of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/boulder-supermarket-shooting">10 people being shot and killed</a>&nbsp;at a supermarket in Boulder, Colorado.---------------DENVER (AP) — A body was found Wednesday night in the Colorado woods near the abandoned car that belonged to a 17-year-old student accused of shooting two administrators at his Denver high school earlier in the day, a sheriff said.Park County Sheriff Tom McGraw said the body was discovered not far from the car in a remote mountain area about 50 miles (80 kilometers) southwest of Denver, near the small town of Bailey, in Park County. The town had been ordered to shelter in place while while officers from a number of agencies including the FBI combed the forest.But, authorities said they have not yet identified who it was and McGraw declined to say if it was a man or reveal the cause of death.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679518079688.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Earlier in the day, Denver police identified the suspect as Austin Lyle.The shooting occurred at East High School in Denver while two administrators searched Lyle for weapons, a daily requirement because of the boy’s behavioral issues, authorities said. Lyle fled after the shooting.It occurred at a school shaken by frequent lockdowns and violence, including the recent killing outside the school of a classmate that prompted East High School students to march on the Colorado Capitol earlier this month. Parents who converged on the 2,500-student campus on Wednesday voiced frustration that officials had not done enough to protect their children.“I am sick of it,” said Jesse Haase, who planned to talk with her daughter about taking her out of classes for the rest of the school year.Amid the flurry of criticism over lax security, Denver school officials said after the shooting that they would once again put armed officers into the city’s public high schools.There were no school resource officers on campus at the time of Wednesday’s shooting, said Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/school-shootings">shooting</a>&nbsp;happened just before 10 a.m. in an office area as Lyle was undergoing a search as part of a “safety plan" that required him to be patted down daily, officials said.The gun used in the shooting was not immediately recovered, Thomas said.One of the wounded administrators was released from the hospital Wednesday afternoon and the second remained in serious condition, said Heather Burke, a spokesperson for Denver Health hospital.Hundreds of students on March 3 skipped class and marched in support of stricter gun laws following the death of Luis Garcia, 16, who was shot while sitting in a car near East High School.In June 2020, amid a summer of protests over racial injustice following the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-us-news-ap-top-news-hip-hop-and-rap-houston-a55d2662f200ead0da4fed9e923b60a7">murder of George Floyd</a>, Denver Public Schools became one of the districts around the US that decided to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-ap-top-news-wisconsin-az-state-wire-racial-injustice-bc5b750085a89e03e132d7d3dda09a99">phase out its use of police officers in school buildings</a>. That push was fueled by criticism that school resource officers disproportionately arrested Black students, sweeping them into the criminal justice system.After Wednesday’s shooting, two armed officers will be posted at East High School through the end of the school year, and other city high schools also will each get an officer, said Denver Public Schools Superintendent Alex Marrero.In a Wednesday letter to the city's Board of Education, Marrero said his decision violated district's policies but added he “can no longer stand on the sidelines.”“I am the leader of this district who is charged with keeping our scholars and staff safe every day,” he wrote. The school board said it supported the decision.Gun violence at schools has become&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uvalde-school-shooting-health-texas-violence-928c177ee8e09b59507c88d9c5b6ce51">increasingly common</a>&nbsp;in the U.S. with more than 1,300 shooting incidents recorded between 2000 and June 2022, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.chds.us/sssc/data-map/">government researchers</a>. Those shootings killed 377 people and wounded 1,025, according to a database maintained by the researchers.Students from East High School had been scheduled to testify Wednesday afternoon before the Colorado Legislature on gun safety bills.“This is the reality of being young in America: sitting through a shooting and waiting for information just hours before you’re scheduled to testify in support of gun safety bills,” said Gracie Taub, a 16-year-old East High School sophomore and volunteer with Students Demand Action in Colorado.Lyle transferred to East High School after being disciplined and removed from a high school in nearby Aurora last school year because of unspecified violations of school policies, said Cherry Creek School District spokesperson Lauren Snell.Marrero said safety plans for students are enacted in response to “past educational and also behavioral experiences,” adding that it’s a common practice throughout Colorado’s public schools. Officials did not give further details on why Lyle was searched daily.But daily pat downs are rare, said Franci Crepeau-Hobson, a University of Colorado Denver professor specializing in school violence prevention.“Clearly they were concerned,” said Crepeau-Hobson. “I can’t imagine they’d do that if there wasn’t a history of the kid carrying a weapon.”Safety plans often follow threatening or suicidal behavior from a student, said Christine Harms with the Colorado School Safety Resource Center.East High School, not far from downtown, was locked down as police investigated the shooting, and hundreds of parents lined up along a road outside the school.Some parents and students vented frustration over violence at the school as they surrounded the police chief. Thomas listened quietly, nodding and promising to engage with the school board.At the edge of the crowd, a man said the city's school board members should be recalled for getting rid of police in school, telling a nearby officer “I just want you to be able to do your job.”In response to the shooting, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre repeated President Joe Biden’s called for stricter gun laws, including bans on assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines, and for Congress to “do something” on gun control.Wednesday was also the second anniversary of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/boulder-supermarket-shooting">10 people being shot and killed</a>&nbsp;at a supermarket in Boulder, Colorado.__

Denver high school shooting suspect dead, coroner confirms

JUNCTION CITY, Kan. (AP) — Two people arrested over the weekend in Michigan have been charged with killing a Kansas couple while stealing their car.

Online court records show that 33-year-old Steven Pierce was charged Tuesday and 29-year-old Kallie Peters on Monday with two counts of first-degree murder, aggravated robbery and theft. Both are from Junction City, Kansas. No attorney is listed for them in the online records.

The victims in the case were identified as 75-year-old Valerie Krissman and 80-year-old Roland Krissman.

The complaint said that the killing happened earlier this month in Junction City during the theft of the Krissman's 2006 Buick Lacrosse.

Junction City police said in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/JCPDKS/posts/pfbid02sZC8tbqpZgNdXTxXGw4WPBAXkFSziM6tKtcN6yeSTVd9UYsfYujg1okbe2SRV84rl">news release</a>&nbsp;the Michigan State Patrol arrested Pierce and Peters on warrants Sunday.

No other details were immediately released about the killing. The prosecutor's office didn't immediately return a phone message.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679429689565.png" alt="Pierce -photo Saginaw Co." />
 <figcaption>Pierce -photo Saginaw Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JUNCTION CITY, Kan. (AP) — Two people arrested over the weekend in Michigan have been charged with killing a Kansas couple while stealing their car.Online court records show that 33-year-old Steven Pierce was charged Tuesday and 29-year-old Kallie Peters on Monday with two counts of first-degree murder, aggravated robbery and theft. Both are from Junction City, Kansas. No attorney is listed for them in the online records.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679429653515.png" alt="Peters-photo Saginaw Co." />
 <figcaption>Peters-photo Saginaw Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>The victims in the case were identified as 75-year-old Valerie Krissman and 80-year-old Roland Krissman.The complaint said that the killing happened earlier this month in Junction City during the theft of the Krissman's 2006 Buick Lacrosse.Junction City police said in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/JCPDKS/posts/pfbid02sZC8tbqpZgNdXTxXGw4WPBAXkFSziM6tKtcN6yeSTVd9UYsfYujg1okbe2SRV84rl">news release</a>&nbsp;the Michigan State Patrol arrested Pierce and Peters on warrants Sunday.No other details were immediately released about the killing. The prosecutor's office didn't immediately return a phone message.

2 jailed in Michigan charged in Junction City double homicide

DENVER (AP) — A student shot and wounded two administrators at a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/teen-gun-violence-denver-march-20b6acfd88edbc6e5c949a08aba45941">Denver high school</a>&nbsp;Wednesday morning, after a handgun was found during a daily search of the boy that was being conducted because of behavioral issues, authorities said.

The 17-year-old suspect remained at large. Denver school officials, facing criticism over lax security, said they would put armed officers into the city's public high schools.

The shooting occurred at a school shaken by frequent lockdowns and violence, including the killing of a classmate that prompted East High School students to march on the Colorado Capitol earlier this month. Parents who converged on the 2,500-student campus on Wednesday faulted officials for not doing enough to protect their children.

Police were searching for Austin Lyle for attempted homicide. The gun used in the shooting was not immediately recovered, Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas said.

Police issued an alert linking Lyle to a red 2005 Volvo X90 with Colorado plates and offered a reward up to $2,000 for information on the case.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/school-shootings">shooting</a>&nbsp;happened just before 10 a.m. in an office area as the student was undergoing a search as part of a “safety plan" that required him to be patted down daily, officials said.

One of the wounded administrators was released from the hospital Wednesday afternoon and the second remained in serious condition, said Heather Burke, a spokesperson for Denver Health hospital. Both victims are male.

Thomas said police know where Lyle lives and believed they would apprehend him.

"He obviously is armed and dangerous and willing to use the weapon, as we’ve learned this morning,” Denver Mayor Michael Hancock warned as law enforcement searched.

Hundreds of students on March 3 skipped class and marched in support of stricter gun laws following the death of Luis Garcia, 16, who was shot while sitting in a car near the school.

There were no school resource officers on campus at the time of Wednesday's shooting, Thomas said.

After Wednesday's shooting, two armed officers will be posted at East High School and other city high schools also will each get an officer, said Denver Public Schools Superintendent Alex Marrero.

In a Wednesday letter to the city's Board of Education, Marrero said his decision would violate the district's policies. But Marrero added he “can no longer stand on the sidelines.”

“I am willing to accept the consequences of my actions,” he wrote. “I am the leader of this district who is charged with keeping our scholars and staff safe every day.”

Gun violence at schools has become&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uvalde-school-shooting-health-texas-violence-928c177ee8e09b59507c88d9c5b6ce51">increasingly common</a>&nbsp;in the U.S. with more than 1,300 shootings recorded between 2000 and June 2022, according to researchers from the Naval Postgraduate School and Center for Homeland Defense and Security. Those shootings killed 377 people and wounded 1,025, according to a database maintained by the researchers.

“Our school experience should not be completely shaped by gun violence,” she added.

Lyle had transferred to East High School after being disciplined and removed from a high school in nearby Aurora during last school year because of violations of school policies, Cherry Creek School District spokesperson Lauren Snell. She declined to specify the violations, citing student privacy.