SUSPECT IS LIVE-IN BOYFRIEND OF ONE OF THE VICTIMS
A man has been charged with three counts of first degree murder, assault in the first degree, four counts of armed criminal action, and animal abuse after he allegedly shot and killed a family and their dog in Platte County shortly after midnight on Sunday, Feb. 2.
Armando Navarro, Jr., age 50, was taken into custody in Abilene, Kan. after he allegedly fled the scene in a vehicle that belonged to one of the victims.
Kansas City police officers went to the 4100 block of Northwest 65th Street at 12:41 a.m. on Feb. 2. According to court documents, a person who called 911 reported that a woman knocked on their door saying her mother’s ex-boyfriend had shot her mother and shot at her.
Officers found three female victims suffering from apparent gunshot wounds inside the residence in the 4100 block of NW 65th Street, Kansas City in Platte County. The women were confirmed deceased by members of the Kansas City Fire Department. The officers also discovered a deceased dog that had apparently been shot.
According to court documents, the surviving victim told police she lived at the residence with her mother, sister, and grandmother. She also said that Navarro, who was her mother’s boyfriend, lived at the residence.
She said that prior to the shooting, her mother and Navarro were arguing. As she was going to bed, she heard her mother yelling. She went out of her room and heard her mother telling Navarro to leave. Navarro replied he didn’t want to leave.
The surviving victim said that for about an hour, her mother and Navarro argued, as her mother told him to leave, and he said he had nowhere to go.
Her grandmother came upstairs, and everyone sat around the kitchen table, while Navarro pleaded with her mother to allow him to stay.
Navarro began going back and forth from his room to the kitchen, during which time they all believed he was gathering his belongings.
Navarro then allegedly came out of his room armed with a small handgun and started shooting at them. The surviving victim’s mother was shot in her upper arm. Navarro then ran out of bullets in the handgun.
As the surviving victim was trying to help her mother, Navarro allegedly grabbed a knife. Her mother tried to shield the surviving victim behind her own body.
Navarro left and returned with a larger firearm. He held the gun under his chin as if he was going to shoot himself. Her mother was trying to get over to the door; however, Navarro allegedly shot her again in the face.
The surviving victim also said she believed her grandmother had already been shot, as the grandmother was lying on the floor and staring at the ceiling, motionless.
The surviving victim said her sister told her to get out of the house. As the surviving victim was trying to get out of the house, Navarro allegedly shot her sister and shot at her. The surviving victim said she felt a projectile hit her hair and saw some of her hair on the floor. She showed detectives where her hair was damaged.
The surviving victim ran out of the house and hid at a nearby address. As she did so, she heard Navarro call out her name. She soon heard a vehicle and saw her mother’s vehicle leaving.
Navarro allegedly left in a white 2020 Ford Expedition bearing a California license plate, issued to one of the victims. The vehicle was located in Abilene, Kan.
Detectives with the Kansas City Police Department contacted the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Department regarding the vehicle. Deputies there said they had already contacted the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, who said he was waiting on a tow truck.
Deputies and Kansas Highway Patrol troopers went back to the scene and arrested Navarro, who was allegedly armed with a revolver containing five spent shell casings.
In addition, a man who identified himself as Navarro’s son had called the Kansas City Police Department, asking police to check on the victims. He said his father had called him at about 2 a.m. and said he had “killed them all.”
The deceased victims are Jodie Hopcus, age 49, Sherri Duncan, age 73, and Hailey Hopcus, age 24.
Navarro is being held without bond. On Monday morning, he was still being held at the Dickinson County Jail in Abilene. The process of getting him extradited back to Platte County is underway, authorities said Monday morning.
Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd said, “This crime is horrific—clearly among the worst I’ve prosecuted in more than two decades. Three women are dead, and a surviving victim lost her mother, grandmother, and sister. My prayers are with the entire family, and we will utilize the full weight of Missouri law to bring this defendant to justice.”
Zahnd said the three first degree murder charges carry a minimum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. Prosecutors could also seek the death penalty. Zahnd said he would determine whether he would seek the death penalty after consulting with the victims’ family and further reviewing the facts of the case.
The crime is being investigated by the Kansas City Police Department. It is being personally prosecuted by Zahnd, first assistant prosecuting attorney Mark Gibson, and assistant prosecuting attorney Blake Sherer.
