Northeast News

On Thursday, July 31, the Jackson County Prosecutor’s office announced charges related to a homicide in the 5400 block of Winner Road.

Hajii McDonald III faces 2nd Degree Murder/Felony Murder and Attempted Stealing. 

Charges are only accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until the defendant is either found guilty or pleads guilty.

Just after 8:30 p.m., on Sunday evening, June 22, Kansas City Police Department (KCPD) officers were dispatched to the 5400 block of Winner Road on a reported disturbance.

When officers arrived, they located security guards on duty at the Greenleaf apartment complex. The complex’s guards directed the officers to a gas station near the intersection where they believed someone had been shot. During a search behind the gas station, officers located an adult male victim with a gunshot wound to the chest. Officers immediately began performing lifesaving measures and ordered Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to the scene. KCFD Medics transported the victim to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased a short time later. The victim is identified as Jeremiah Jones, BM, 01/08/2007.

Security footage from an area business showed Jones attempting to steal a bag from a man outside the gas station and McDonald assisting Jones in knocking the man to the ground. During the struggle, the man pulled out a firearm. McDonald tried to grab the firearm, but the man gained control of the firearm, got back to his feet and McDonald fled. Jones still had a hold of the owner’s bag, and ended up throwing him back to the ground. The man then fired at Jones. 

“Under Missouri law, if a death occurs during the commission of a felony, everyone involved in committing that felony can be charged with murder, even if they did not pull the trigger,” said Jackson County Prosecutor, Melesa Johnson. “While the man was legally defending himself, the defendant’s participation in the attempted theft makes him a responsible party for the resulting death.”

This charge, according to the prosecutor’s office, is known as felony murder, where participants in serious crimes are held accountable for any deaths that occur during those crimes, regardless of who actually caused the death. 

 McDonald is being held without bond.