KC man accused of killing neighbor over lawn dispute

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A 42-year-old Kansas City, Missouri man has been charged in connection to Sunday’s deadly shooting near E. 35th Street and Garfield Avenue.

Jackson County prosecutors charged Samuel Avery with second-degree murder and armed criminal action.

The probable cause statement shows Avery told investigators he shot his neighbor after they argued over the noise from Avery’s lawnmower.

Police identified the victim as 40-year-old Warner Trotter.

According to court records, Avery called police dispatch around noon Sunday. He told them he had shot Trotter and he reported placing the gun in a chair.

The probable cause statement shows a witness told investigators the two men were arguing over Avery mowing his yard early in the morning.

Avery told officers during a police interview that he and the victim had been arguing for a decade. On the day of the shooting, Avery said the argument was about his lawn mower, according to court documents.

Several hours later, as Avery finished his yard work, he noticed the victim and witness arriving at their home. Avery said the victim reached for his handgun when he saw him in the yard. That’s when Avery shot and killed the man, according to the probable cause statement.

Officers arrived and found Trotter suffering from a gunshot wound on the front porch of a residence. He died from his injuries after being transported to a hospital.

Security video recovered by police showed the victim arriving at his residence, next door to the suspect.

The victim is shown saying something to the suspect, but the suspect produced a firearm and shot the victim multiple times. The victim had no weapon in his hands nor did he reach for a weapon.

Prosecutors have requested a $200,000 cash bond.