KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A suspect has been arrested in connection to several homicides on Indian Creek Trail.
Fredrick D. Scott, a 22-year-old man from Kansas City, Missouri, has been charged in connection to two murders along Indian Creek Trail — John W. Palmer and Steve Gibbons. He is considered a suspect in the other three murders.
Officials said they did not have a motive to point.
Palmer's case was one of four that KCPD officials said contained "similarities."
August 19, 2016 - John W. Palmer, 55, East Bannister Road, Lydia Avenue
February 27, 2017 - David Lennox, 66, 9939 Walnut Street
April 4, 2017 - Timothy S. Rice, 57, 1601 East Red Bridge Road
May 18, 2017 - Michael Darby, 373 West 101st Street Terrace
All four of the victims from the original announcement were white males between the ages of 54-67. Three of the men were walking their dogs along the trail or close to it, officials said. At that time, there wasn't any evidence that the cases were related.
Gibbons was not part of that original announcement. According to Scott's charging documents, Gibbons was found dead from a gunshot wound to the head on August 13 at 1146 E. 67th St. Surveillance video of a person appearing to follow Gibbons getting off a KCATA bus lead investigators to Scott.
According to the documents, Scott admitted to accidentally shooting the victim. He said he was removing the gun from his pocket when it accidentally went off. A 9mm handgun was later recovered from Scott's residence, which he said was the one used in Gibbons's shooting. Scott had reported the gun stolen.
The documents also revealed that all of the victims were killed from gunshots.
READ | FULL CHARGES, PROBABLE CAUSE STATEMENT
Prosecutors say they only have enough evidence to charge Scott in two of the murders. Officials are asking for anyone with any information to come forward.
If you have any information, you're encouraged to call the Kansas City Police Department or the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-8477 (TIPS).
Extended coverage:
KC police are 'aware of the similarities,' actively investigating homicides along Indian Creek Trail
Kansas City police release video that may provide 'vital information' in Indian Creek Trail homicide
200 attend bike ride to honor Indian Creek Trail homicide victim
