K.C. man allegedly fatally shoots neighbor over lawn mower following 10 years of arguments
08/09/2022 12:55 pm PDT
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (TCD) -- A 42-year-old man faces criminal charges after he allegedly fatally shot his neighbor in the head during an argument about lawn mowing.
In a statement, the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office announced second-degree murder and armed criminal action charges against Samuel Avery for the death of 41-year-old Warner Alexander Trotter.
According to Avery’s charging documents, on Sunday, Aug. 7, at 12:11 p.m., Kansas City Police officers were dispatched to 3518 Garfield Ave. for reports of shots fired. Soon after, Avery allegedly called police to say Trotter pulled a gun on him, but Avery then shot him in return and "emptied the clip in him."
Avery reportedly told dispatchers he left the gun on a chair.
Officers arrived at the scene and saw Trotter suffering from a gunshot wound to the head on the front porch of the home next door, 3522 Garfield Ave. Emergency officials transported him to Truman Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. Officers reportedly located Trotter’s gun tucked into his waistband. At around the same time, police took Avery into custody without incident.
Kansas City Police had reportedly been called twice that same day because Avery and Trotter were "arguing over the suspect mowing his yard early in the morning."
A witness said she and Trotter went to get food early in the morning. When they returned, Trotter reportedly saw Avery standing on his porch next door and Trotter said "something to the effect of, 'Do you have something to say?'"
The witness said that’s when she heard "several gunshots." She admitted Trotter was armed but "stated the weapon was concealed and the victim never brandished the weapon."
According to the court document, Avery told detectives he and Trotter had been feuding for 10 years. Avery reportedly said Trotter "called him names and gestured with his hand that he would shoot him."
Avery reportedly said he called police during the first argument, but police did not do anything because the two men were just arguing. After finishing his yard work hours later, Avery reportedly said he saw Trotter and the witness go into their home, and that’s when Trotter allegedly got out his gun.
Avery said when he saw Trotter grab his weapon, Avery "emptied his clip into him." He said there is video surveillance that shows the entire encounter.
According to the charging document, Avery’s porch is approximately 10 yards from Trotter’s front door. Investigators looked through the security camera footage and noted, "The victim’s hands can be clearly seen throughout the video and at no time does he have a weapon or reach for a weapon at any time."
Jackson County court records show Avery’s bond was set at $100,000.
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