Three women and a dog were tragically killed at a residence in Missouri on Sunday, and a suspect has been charged with murder, authorities confirmed. The victims were discovered deceased at a home in Kansas City after a report of a shooting was made to the Kansas City Police Department around 12:41 a.m. on Sunday. The victims were identified as 49-year-old Jodie Hopcus, 73-year-old Sherri Duncan, and 24-year-old Hailey Hopcus, along with a dog that was also shot. The suspect, identified as the ex-boyfriend of one of the victims, Armando Navarro Jr., was arrested in Abilene, Kansas, about 170 miles west of Kansas City. He faces multiple charges including three counts of first-degree murder, assault in the first degree, four counts of armed criminal action, and animal abuse. Navarro is currently held without bond in Kansas pending extradition to Platte County. A surviving family member of the victims managed to escape and seek help from a neighbor after the suspect allegedly opened fire during an argument. The surviving victim recounted the harrowing events that led to the tragic loss of her family members. Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd stated that Navarro’s charges could result in a life sentence without parole and mentioned the possibility of seeking the death penalty, pending further review of the case. Zahnd expressed compassion for the surviving family member and emphasized the weight of the decision to seek the death penalty, acknowledging the profound impact on the grieving family.
The authorities were investigating whether there had been previous domestic violence incidents at the home. The surviving victim’s mother and Navarro were known to have frequent arguments. During a press conference, Zahnd described the crime as “horrific,” stating it was one of the worst cases he had prosecuted during his 22-year career. Three women lost their lives, and the surviving victim lost her mother, grandmother, and sister. Zahnd expressed his condolences to the family and assured that they would use all legal means to bring the defendant to justice. It was unclear who was representing Navarro in court as of Monday afternoon. Saleen Martin, a reporter for USA TODAY’s NOW team, originally reported on the Kansas City shooting where three women were found dead, and a man was arrested according to the police. For more information, contact Saleen at sdmartin@usatoday.com.