Oct 11, 2021

Missouri man charged in shooting first reported as suicide

Posted Oct 11, 2021 9:00 AM
Blesz photo Jackson Co.
Blesz photo Jackson Co.

KANSAS CITY(AP) — A Kansas City-area man has been charged in connection with a shooting that was initially reported as a suicide.

The Jackson County Prosecutor's Office said Saturday that 36-year-old Myles Blesz of Independence, Mo.,  has been charged with second-degree murder and several other charges in the death of Waylon Williams on Oct. 5.

A friend told police that Williams had shot himself when his body was found that morning.

But detectives who searched the area found two guns and Williams' cell phone in the woods, and shell casings in the home where Williams was found matched one of the guns.

According to court records, a neighbor reported hearing an argument before hearing gunshots. A witness told police he helped Blesz hide the guns in the woods. And court documents say Blesz later told detectives that he shot Williams but he didn’t mean to do it.