St. Joseph Post
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — A nearly month-long search for a man suspected in a shooting at Atchison’s “Juneteenth” celebration ended with his arrest in St. Joseph.
Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson says a team of law enforcement officers apprehended 31-year-old Kevin Maxey, Jr. Wednesday afternoon at a St. Joseph apartment complex.
“Our detectives here at Atchison police have been searching for Maxey in connection to the shooting of a 42-year-old male in the 1100 block of North 8th here in Atchison that occurred around 3am on June the 9th,” Wilson tells St. Joseph Post. “Our detectives have been working with U.S. Marshal’s Office and information had been developed that Maxey was in the St. Joseph area.”
Atchison police say a group of about 20 had gathered at LFM park after the 14th Annual Atchison Juneteenth celebration in the early morning hours of June 9th. An argument broke out between two of them, which sparked the shooting. The victim, apparently, was not involved in the argument, but was struck twice by gunshots.
Officers who responded to the scene and found the man suffering from life-threatening injuries. He was taken to a St. Joseph hospital.
A warrant issued by the Kansas District Court of Atchison County charges Maxey with attempted second-degree murder, criminal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and criminal discharge of a firearm. Maxey is being held in Buchanan County.
Wilson says the investigation concluded Maxey likely had left the area.
“We actually believed that he was outside the Atchison area,” Wilson says. “We’ve worked with a number of agencies in various locations throughout, not only the Midwest area, but actually in other areas outside of the immediate Atchison area.”
A team which included members of the United States Marshal Fugitive Apprehension Team, the Buchanan County Drug Strike Force, the St. Joseph Missouri Street Crimes Unit, and detectives with the Atchison Police Department made the arrest Wednesday afternoon.
The victim is a 42-year-old Atchison man. Wilson says he is out of the hospital and recovering from his wounds. Atchison police have declined to release his name.