For Immediate Release

June 12, 2020

An 18-year-old Kansas City man faces felony charges in connection with May 3 fatal shooting of Mauricia Strother, 18, near 80th and Michigan, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced today.

Wesley Palton, dob 2/27/2002, faces Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Murder 2nd Degree and two counts of Armed Criminal Action charges.*

According to court records, Kansas City police were dispatched to the area of 80th and Michigan Avenue on about 5 a.m. on May 3, 2020, and found a female victim suffering from a gunshot wound. She died as a result of her injuries later at the hospital. The victim was sitting in a vehicle with another woman. Police processed shell casings found in the street and shell casings found near the victim’s vehicle. Police also learned that the house of one of the victim’s grandmother’s house near 81st and Olive Street was shot into several times earlier that same morning. In addition, a witness told police that the defendant had shot at a vehicle in front of a Kansas City, KS, home.  Shell casings from that Kansas City, KS, scene matched shell casings from 81st and Olive. They also matched shell casings earlier collected at the victim’s address.  Video surveillance at the time of the homicide showed a vehicle associated with the defendant and a witness who had been testing with the defendant prior to and after the homicide. That witness told police she thought he may have had something to do with the shooting. 

Prosecutors requested a $200,000 bond.

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.