For Immediate Release
March 2, 2023
A second defendant has been convicted in the November 2019 fatal shootings of three persons in the 4500 block of South Benton in Kansas City, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced today.
A Jackson County jury today convicted Victor Sykes, dob: 11/10/1975, of three counts of Murder in the 1st Degree and three counts of Armed Criminal Action. Sykes will be sentenced on April 4.
According to court records, Kansas City police officers were on patrol in the area of 45th and South Benton in Kansas City, when they heard gunshots. They soon observed a woman in the area. She appeared to have a rifle in her hands. They also saw a man walking in the area of 45th and South Benton. The woman got into a black seda, but was quickly taken into custody. The woman was identified as Lynnsey Jones. A firearm was found in the vehicle. An additonal officer pursued the man, who was later identified as Victor Sykes. He was taken into custody after a foot pursuit. Police found a male victim, apparently deceased, in the street. Rifle casings were recovered from near the victim. The front door of a residence was ajar. Police found another victim on the floor A thired victim was found in the residence, also deceased from a gunshot. Jones told police she had gone to the reisdence to purchase narcotics. After she went inside and smoked marijuanae with two unknown women, she told police, she went back outside and found two men arguing. Jones said the men had guns. She also admitted to shooting at all three victims -- later identified as Larona T. Jones, 8/27/1977, Larry T. Barnes, 7/18/1979 and Brandy Jones, 4/12/1981.
A judge has already sentenced co-defendant, Lynnsey D. Jones to three life sentences after she was convicted of the same counts by a Jackson County jury.
Assistant Prosecutors Jeremy Baldwin, Dion Sankar and Clayton Whitworth prosecuted the case on behalf of the state of Missouri.
For more information, contact:
Michael Mansur
Director of Communication
Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office
Jean Peters Baker, Prosecutor
Work : (816) 881-3812
Mobile : (816) 674-3954
www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com
mmansur@jacksongov.org
*Charges are only accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until the defendant is either found guilty or has pleaded guilty.