Murder charges have been filed against a Kansas City man accused of killing a former Independence resident and her unborn child.
Lionel R. Henderson, 25, has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder in the death of Ashley Thomas, 25, of Independence, and her unborn child. In addition, he has been charged with four counts of armed criminal action and two count of first-degree assault against Thomas’ boyfriend, Darryl Pickens and a fourth victim in the vehicle.
According to court records, Thomas was sitting in the front passenger seat of a car Friday night on Armour Boulevard in Kansas City. Pickens was in the driver’s seat. A third person, who originally ran from the scene, was in the back. They were parked in front of the apartment building where Thomas and Pickens lived.
Two black males were seen walking east along the sidewalk. The person in the back seat, who has not been identified, recognized the two men from the area. As the suspects came closer, one pulled out a gun and began firing into the vehicle. The second suspect acted as a lookout. The Jackson County Prosecutor’s office is alleging that Henderson was in the lookout position.
The man in the back seat ducked when the firing started and was grazed with a bullet. He reported to police that he saw the two suspects flee the scene together.
Thomas, a 2003 graduate of Truman High School, was taken to an area hospital, were she later died. Although medical personnel attempted to save her unborn baby, a girl to be named Amya, the baby also died at the hospital. Thomas was due to give birth next month.
Anyone with information in the case can call the Crime Stoppers TIPS hot line at 816-474-TIPS.
