Three women and a dog were tragically killed at a residence in Missouri on Sunday, and a suspect has been charged with murder, officials confirmed. The victims, identified as 49-year-old Jodie Hopcus, 73-year-old Sherri Duncan, and 24-year-old Hailey Hopcus, were found unresponsive at a home in Kansas City after authorities were alerted to a shooting incident around 12:41 a.m. on Sunday. The Kansas City Police Department reported that upon arrival, the women and the dog had been fatally shot. Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd announced during a press conference on Monday that the suspect, identified as Armando Navarro Jr., the ex-boyfriend of one of the victims, had been arrested in connection with the killings. Navarro was apprehended in Abilene, Kansas, approximately 170 miles west of Kansas City, and is facing multiple charges, including three counts of first-degree murder, assault in the first degree, armed criminal action, and animal abuse.
Zahnd stated that the daughter of one of the deceased victims managed to survive the harrowing ordeal and sought help from a neighbor after witnessing the tragic events. She informed the authorities that her mother, sister, grandmother, and Navarro were present during the altercation, which escalated into the fatal shooting. According to Zahnd, the surviving victim recounted that Navarro brandished a handgun during an argument and began firing at the victims after being asked to leave the residence. Despite attempting to shield her family members, the surviving victim was unable to prevent the devastating outcome.
The suspect is currently held without bond in Kansas and will be extradited back to Platte County. Zahnd mentioned that Navarro’s son alerted the authorities after receiving a disturbing call from his father confessing to the crime. The charges against Navarro carry severe penalties, including a minimum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. Zahnd expressed his intention to meet with the victims’ family to discuss the next steps in the case.
The investigation into this tragic incident continues, and the community mourns the loss of the victims while seeking justice for their untimely deaths.
Whether there was a history of calls to the home regarding domestic violence or arguments between the surviving victim’s mother and Navarro remains uncertain. The probable cause statement reveals the frequent arguments between Navarro and the surviving victim’s mother. At a press conference, Zahnd described the crime as “horrific,” stating that it was one of the most severe cases he had encountered in his 22 years of prosecution. He expressed condolences for the loss of three women and the survivor’s mother, grandmother, and sister, emphasizing that the full weight of Missouri law would be used to ensure justice for the defendant. As of Monday afternoon, it was not known who was representing Navarro in court. Saleen Martin, a member of USA TODAY’s NOW team, hails from Norfolk, Virginia, known as the 757 area. For inquiries, contact her via email at sdmartin@usatoday.com. This article was originally published on USA TODAY, reporting on the tragic incident in Kansas City where three women were found dead and a man was arrested, as announced by the police.
