For Immediate Release

Sept. 19, 2018

An Oak Grove man, 18, has been charged in the fatal shooting on Tuesday of Mary Schmitz and the wounding of another victim in Independence, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced today.

David A. Harris, dob: 9/30/1999, faces Murder 2nd Degree, Assault 1st Degree and two counts of Armed Criminal Action.*

According to court records, Independence police officers responded to the 1100 block of Quail Creek Drive in Independence in the early morning of Sept. 18, 2018 on a report of shots fired. At the scene, they heard yelling. Through a window they saw the homicide victim on the floor in the dining room. The occupants of the apartment came out. Police also found a man in a bedroom who had been shot. He was transported to a hospital. A German Shepherd had also been killed. A little later, officers conducted a pedestrian check on the defendant who was in the area of 39th and Crackerneck. He matched the descriptions of the suspect given to police by the assault victim. The defendant told police that he had been in a fight with the assault victim at the home on Quail Creek and had shot the homicide victim, Schmitz, during that altercation. He told police he fled and threw the gun in the woods.

Prosecutors requested a bond of $100,000 cash only.

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

mmansur@jacksongov.org

http://jacksoncountyprosecutor.com

*Charges are only accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until the defendant is either found guilty or has pleaded.