|
|
|
Charges have been filed in the death of an 11-year-old Independence girl killed while celebrating the Fourth of July holiday with her family.
Aaron Sullivan, 50, of Kansas City, faces felony counts of involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action for firing his .900 mm Glock handgun in the air on July 4. Bail was set at $25,000.
The bullet struck Blair Shanahan-Lane, who was playing with fireworks in the yard of a relative. She died at an area hospital the next day.
Jackson County prosecutor Jean Peters Baker confirmed that the Kansas City Police Department had investigated four men discharging firearms at a nearby apartment complex in connection with the shooting.
“There were four individuals, and we did charge only one – the owner of the gun, who provided the gun, who admitted to firing the gun,” Peters Baker said. “We felt as if charges regarding the other three, though thoroughly examined, fell short.”
Sullivan was monitoring the pool at the Whispering Lakes apartment complex until 9 p.m. Police found shell casings around the back of the office, on a wooden dock and in the lake separating the apartments from nearby residences. The office is about 1,000 feet from where Blair was struck.
Sullivan admitted that he and three friends had fired the handgun around the back of the office between 8:50 and 9:30 p.m. on the night of July 4. The bullet hit Blair at 9:13. Testing linked the bullet to Sullivan’s handgun.
Peters Baker praised police detectives for their work on the case.
“It is remarkable that the Kansas City Police Department solved this crime,” she said. “The only reason this can be charged is because someone lost their life, a very tragic death. If no one had lost their life, if only property had been damaged, there would be no charges.”
State Rep. Mike Talboy, D-Kansas City, is working with Peters Baker on legislation to make shooting a gun in the air a Class D felony.
If passed, it would likely be called “Blair’s Law.”
“It’s not as high as involuntary manslaughter, but it sends a message,” Peters Baker said. “We need you to be responsible gun owners. Shooting a gun for the Fourth of July or a holiday or celebration is incredibly dangerous, and we just shouldn’t allow it.”
Charges have been filed in the death of an 11-year-old Independence girl killed while celebrating the Fourth of July holiday with her family.
Aaron Sullivan, 50, of Kansas City, faces felony counts of involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action for firing his .900 mm Glock handgun in the air on July 4. Bail was set at $25,000.
The bullet struck Blair Shanahan-Lane, who was playing with fireworks in the yard of a relative. She died at an area hospital the next day.
Jackson County prosecutor Jean Peters Baker confirmed that the Kansas City Police Department had investigated four men discharging firearms at a nearby apartment complex in connection with the shooting.
“There were four individuals, and we did charge only one – the owner of the gun, who provided the gun, who admitted to firing the gun,” Peters Baker said. “We felt as if charges regarding the other three, though thoroughly examined, fell short.”
Sullivan was monitoring the pool at the Whispering Lakes apartment complex until 9 p.m. Police found shell casings around the back of the office, on a wooden dock and in the lake separating the apartments from nearby residences. The office is about 1,000 feet from where Blair was struck.
Sullivan admitted that he and three friends had fired the handgun around the back of the office between 8:50 and 9:30 p.m. on the night of July 4. The bullet hit Blair at 9:13. Testing linked the bullet to Sullivan’s handgun.
Peters Baker praised police detectives for their work on the case.
“It is remarkable that the Kansas City Police Department solved this crime,” she said. “The only reason this can be charged is because someone lost their life, a very tragic death. If no one had lost their life, if only property had been damaged, there would be no charges.”
State Rep. Mike Talboy, D-Kansas City, is working with Peters Baker on legislation to make shooting a gun in the air a Class D felony.
If passed, it would likely be called “Blair’s Law.”
“It’s not as high as involuntary manslaughter, but it sends a message,” Peters Baker said. “We need you to be responsible gun owners. Shooting a gun for the Fourth of July or a holiday or celebration is incredibly dangerous, and we just shouldn’t allow it.”
