Suspect arrested in Missouri murder case after chase through Independence

INDEPENDENCE, Missouri (KCTV) – A person suspected in connection with a murder in Higginsville was arrested following a chase in Kansas City for a different incident.

Jackson County District Court records in Missouri show that 19-year-old Marcus LW Liggins of Independence was charged in connection with a shooting in early September.

Liggins was charged with unlawful use of a weapon, armed criminal action and resisting arrest. According to court documents, on Tuesday, September 3, at approximately 12:30 p.m., detectives with the Independence Police Department were pursuing suspects for a previous aggravated assault when they heard two consecutive gunshots, each from a different firearm.

Investigators said they saw a vehicle with two occupants traveling north on Dover Road. The passenger then leaned out of the vehicle and fired a handgun forward. When officers tried to stop the driver, later identified as Liggins, he refused and began a chase.

According to court documents, the chase reached speeds of over 100 miles per hour on Highway 24 in light traffic and nearly 70 miles per hour in a residential area. When officers called off the pursuit due to the dangerous nature of the rush hour, Liggins and the second suspect, later identified as a minor, jumped out of the car and ran.

Both were eventually intercepted and arrested. When police officers arrested Liggins, they said they saw him throw a gun in a nearby wood. It also turned out that Liggins was wanted for a murder in Higginsville. He also had several warrants out for his arrest from the city.

During an interview with police officers, Liggins admitted to the crimes and admitted that he knew that people had died from projectiles falling from the sky.

Liggins has been behind bars since Thursday, with bail for the incident set at $75,000 cash and a $2,000 bond for the arrest warrants.

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