For Immediate Release
Jan. 12, 2023

A Kansas City, Kan, man, 30, faces multiple felony charges in connection with the deaths of two persons killed when KCK man crashed into their vehicle as he attempted to flee from police, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced today.

Chales T. Matthews, dob: 8/24/1992, faces two counts of Murder 2nd Degree for killing in a vehicular collision two men while the defendant was perpetrating the crime of Restisting Arrest or, in the alternative, Involuntary Manslaughter 1st Degree, as well as Resisting A Lawful Stop and Tampering with a Motor Vehicle 1st Degree.*

According to court records, on Jan. 7, 2023, Kansas City, Kan., police were dispatched to the 400 block of N. 18th Street in KCK on a reported armed robbery. Officers determined a white 2013 GMC Terrain had been stolen after the defendant allegedly threatened a teen with a knife. KCK police officers later attempted to stop the vehicle and pursued it into Kansas City, MO. The vehicle fled throughout Downtown Kansas City, then turned eastbound on Independence Avenue. The vehicle reached high speeds, disregarded traffic signals and, at Hardesty Avenue, crashed into a Nissan Altima after the GMC Terrain failed to stop at a red light. Gabriela K. Trejo-Garcia, dob: 12/28/1978, and Juan Avila, dob: 4/11/1996, both died of injuries sustained in the crash.

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
www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com
mmansur@jacksongov.org

*Charges are only accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until the defendant is either found guilty or has pleaded guilty.