KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A man in Platte County, Missouri, now faces multiple charges in connection with the shooting and killing of three women in a Kansas City home. Armando Navarro has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder, four counts of armed criminal action, first-degree assault, and animal abuse following the incident. The tragic event unfolded near NW 65th Street and Green Hills Road just before 1 a.m. on Sunday when officers responded to reports of gunfire in the area. Upon arrival, law enforcement discovered three victims with gunshot wounds who were later pronounced dead at the scene.
The victims have been identified as Jodie Hopcus, 49, Sherri Duncan, 73, and Hailey Hopcus, 24. Additionally, a dog was found inside the home also deceased from a gunshot wound. A fourth victim, who had been shot, managed to escape and seek help from a nearby residence. This victim identified Navarro as the suspect and reported that he fled in a 2020 Ford Expedition belonging to one of the victims. Authorities located Navarro and the vehicle in Abilene, Kansas, where he was taken into custody.
Charging documents revealed that a call to 911 prompted police to check on the victims after an individual relayed that Navarro had confessed to killing them. During a news conference, Platte County Prosecutor Eric Zahnd disclosed that the victims included a mother, daughter, and grandmother. Jodie Hopcus, the mother, had previously dated Navarro, and tensions between them had escalated, leading her to ask him to leave their home. The daughter of Jodie Hopcus and sister of Hailey Hopcus was the fourth victim who sought help.
As the community reels from the senseless tragedy, authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident. With no additional details available at this time, the motive behind the triple homicide remains unclear. Navarro’s arrest sheds light on a devastating crime that has left three generations of women brutally taken in their own home. The profound impact of their loss reverberates through the neighborhood and serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of life.