Suspect released following Peculiar homicide
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
By Allen Edmonds
PECULIAR – A suspect in the Saturday night shooting of 51-year-old Melchor Carbjal-Hinojos outside the Peculiar Lions Club was arrested, then released this week following a decision by the Cass County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office that not enough evidence had been collected to pursue charges, according to Peculiar Police Chief and City Manager Don Shepard.
Cass County Prosecuting Attorney Ben Butler said Wednesday that “the matter remains under active investigation.”
Shepard disagreed with the decision to release the suspect, saying Wednesday that he believed evidence was sufficient to support the filing of charges.
“I spoke with him (Butler) for over an hour yesterday,” he said.
Shepard is currently in Quantico, Va., participating in special training at the FBI training center, but is participating in the investigation remotely along with Peculiar officers, Raymore officers and the Cass County Sheriff’s Office.
He said the CCSO and Raymore assisted Saturday with evidence collection, and Raymore continues to assist with follow-up.
“We disagree with the decision” to release and not charge the suspect, he said. "The
"The Police Department conducted a thorough nonstop investigation from the moment the incident happened, and submitted the case to the prosecutor's office within the required 24 hours of arrest time. The prosecutor's office was not comfortable filing charges at this time. The Police Department did not agree with this decision, and we are still investigating."
According to initial reports, at around 10:15 p.m., Peculiar Police were called to the 500 block of Schug Avenue for a report of shots fired at a party.
Once on scene, officers were met with many people fleeing the area. A single gunshot victim was taken to Belton Regional Medical Center, and was later pronounced dead.
The shooter fled from the scene before officers arrived. A search was conducted in the surrounding areas, using drones, helicopter, and canine.
Anyone with information about the incident is urged to call Peculiar Police at 816-779-5102 or 816-474-TIPS (8477).
Comments