Northeast News

On Thursday, June 4, Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson announced several felony charges against a Kansas City man in connection to a shooting that left one dead and one injured this week.

Brayan Arguijo-Mejia faces one count of 2nd Degree Murder, two counts of Armed Criminal Action, and one count of 1st Degree Assault. 

According to court records, Kansas City police responded to a reported shooting on June 1, and upon arrival, located a male matching the suspect description, later identified as the defendant. He was taken into custody without incident. 

Inside the residence, two victims were suffering from gunshot wounds. One victim, Arelio Antonio-Lazaro (WM 11/20/1983),  was pronounced deceased on the scene, and the other victim was transported to a nearby hospital in life-threatening, critical condition. 

Witnesses reported to police hearing 8 to 9 gunshots and then saw the defendant with a firearm.The defendant and victims were all residing at the same address, 1201 Askew Avenue. In a statement to the investigators, Mejia claimed he thought he heard a gun being loaded, retrieved his own firearm and shot both victims. The surviving victim is now stable.

A Jackson County judge set the defendant’s bond at $250,000 cash only. 

According to the prosecutor’s office, charges are only accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until the defendant is either found guilty or pleads guilty.

The range of punishment for a Class A felony is imprisonment in the custody of the Missouri Department of Corrections for a term of years, not less than ten years and not to exceed 30 years, or life imprisonment.