Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson today announced prosecutors secured a guilty plea from a Kansas City man who shot at a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper during a high-speed pursuit in 2022.
Christopher Northcutt pleaded guilty last week to Assault in the 1st Degree, two counts of Armed Criminal Action, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Resisting Arrest, and Tampering with Evidence.
According to court records, a Missouri state trooper attempted to conduct a traffic stop of a vehicle for a traffic offense on I-70 at Grain Valley on November 19, 2022. Once the trooper stepped out of his patrol car, the vehicle accelerated away at a high rate of speed. A pursuit began and a rear seat passenger of the vehicle emerged from the window and fired several shots at the trooper, striking the patrol vehicle.
The suspect vehicle was later found abandoned at a hotel parking lot in Blue Springs. Surveillance footage captured around the hotel and a cell phone search led to the identification of the defendant.
The defendant will be sentenced on April 17 at 11:00 a.m.
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Clayton Whitworth prosecuted the case on behalf of the state of Missouri.
Media Contact:
Jazzlyn Johnson
Director of Communications
Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office
415 E 12th Street
Kansas City, MO - 64106
(816) 929-1289
jazzlyn.johnson@jacksongov.org
https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com