Authorities say a manager at McKeever’s Price Chopper in Parkville has died as a result of head injuries suffered when a suspected shoplifter knocked him backward to the ground.
The shoplifting suspect now faces more serious allegations, as the Platte County Prosecutor’s Office has charged him with involuntary manslaughter in the store manager’s death.
Charged is Joshua J. Stucky, age 33. Court records do not list an address for the suspect.
Stucky is in custody in Johnson County on unrelated Kansas charges, said Kevin Chrisman, Parkville police chief. After the charges in Kansas are dealt with, Stucky will be brought to Platte County to face the involuntary manslaughter charge.
The incident at the Price Chopper in Parkville occurred on Nov. 16.
Tony L. Silvey, age 64, of Kansas City, a store manager, was knocked backward to the ground and hit his head during the incident.
Silvey was hospitalized for a few days after the incident, Chrisman said, and then was sent home for recovery. He never returned to work.
Chrisman said Silvey collapsed and died on Dec. 2.
According to court documents, the preliminary autopsy report indicates Silvey died as a result of the alleged assault. Doctors told police that Silvey had a skull fracture, hemorrhaging on the skull and a brain bleed.
THE INCIDENT
According to court documents, the incident occurred at about 6:20 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16. The loss prevention officer of the store had observed the store’s closed circuit television system a female in the health and beauty department of the store select several items and conceal the merchandise in a gift bag that she also selected. The female met up with a male in the store and they both selected more items and concealed the merchandise in a gift back and a shopping cart, according to the allegations. The suspects walked to the front of the store and passed all points of sale without making an attempt to purchase the items before separating, with the male exiting the west door with all of the merchandise, according to court documents.
The loss prevention officer and store manager Silvey contacted the male suspect and were in the process of escorting him back to the store’s loss prevention office.
They had entered the west doors of the store when the male suspect Stucky stated “you have your stuff back” and began to actively resist. Stucky allegedly turned and pushed Silvey to the ground and fled, entering a gold Chevy Impala with Kansas plates.
The loss prevention officer then approached the female shoplifting suspect who had exited a separate door and she began to actively resist. Stucky allegedly drove up to where the struggle was going on, enters the struggle. Both suspects get away from the loss prevention officer, get in the car and drive away.
When police arrived on the scene Silvey was lying on the pavement near the west entrance/exit doors of the store. Officers noticed a small amount of blood on the back of his head and though he was conscious “he appeared to be disoriented,” according to court documents. He was transported to North Kansas City Hospital by ambulance.
Parkville police were notified that Silvey, who was recovering at home, had died Dec. 2 after collapsing at home then being taken to North Kansas City Hospital that day.
After surveillance photographs and license plate information of the suspects had been shared throughout the metro, Parkville police learned the same license was involved in a theft in Leawood, Kan. on Nov. 30.
Leawood police determined a name associated with the license plate to be Joshua J. Stucky, who had been arrested in Wyandotte County in March of 2019.
Riverside police contacted Parkville police on Dec. 3 with identifying information on the female who was with Stucky at the Price Chopper. They identified her as Grace Clark, who had been with Stucky when he had previously been arrested in Riverside for driving while suspended.
Clark, age 26, is charged with misdemeanor stealing in the incident at the Price Chopper.
TONY SILVEY
According to his obituary, Silvey had worked as a store manager at the McKeever’s Price Chopper in Parkville for many years. He was a 1974 graduate of Oak Park High School. Parkville Police Chief Kevin Chrisman said he had personally known Silvey for many years.
When he wasn’t working, Silvey enjoyed “taking pride in caring for his lawn, going to the casino and spending time with family,” according to his obituary. He leaves a daughter, a grandson, a brother, a niece, and “many extended family and friends,” his obituary stated.
A celebration of his life was held Dec. 10 at Terrace Park Funeral Home, Shoal Creek Parkway in Kansas City.