On December 30, 2021, a violent tragedy struck the community of Kirksville, Missouri, claiming the life of Parker Douglas Sizemore, a White male toddler who was only 18 months old. The incident unfolded at a duplex apartment on West Dodson Street, where Parker was spending time with family and acquaintances. What began as a gathering turned into a scene of chaos when gunfire erupted inside the residence.
Parker was fatally shot in the head during the mass shooting, dying at the scene alongside another victim, 22-year-old Braxton Cottrill.
The violence extended beyond the immediate fatalities, leaving a trail of devastation for the other occupants of the apartment. Alissa Anders, an 18-year-old woman who was present during the attack, suffered critical gunshot wounds. She was transported to a hospital where she fought for her life for nearly a month before succumbing to her injuries on January 25, 2022. Anders was pregnant at the time of the shooting, and medical staff were able to deliver her baby alive via emergency C-section before she passed. A fourth victim, 21-year-old Randall Yarrington, was shot in the chest but managed to survive the assault after receiving medical treatment.
Law enforcement officers from the Kirksville Police Department and the Adair County Sheriff’s Office responded rapidly to the scene, launching a homicide investigation that quickly identified suspects known to the victims. Police determined that the shooting was not a random act. Within days, authorities made their first arrest. On January 2, 2022, 53-year-old Ray Rijos was taken into custody at his home in Kirksville. A second suspect, 22-year-old Anquan 'AJ' Glover, fled the immediate area but was apprehended over a week later, on January 10, in the Belton, Missouri area.
The legal proceedings revealed the severity of the charges brought against the two men. Ray Rijos faced multiple felony counts, and in January 2023, a jury found him guilty of three counts of second-degree murder and other related crimes. He was subsequently sentenced to three consecutive life prison terms plus additional years for the assaults. Anquan Glover was charged with fourteen felonies, including three counts of first-degree murder, reflecting the gravity of the triple homicide. While Rijos has been convicted and sentenced for his role in the massacre that ended Parker’s young life, Glover remained in the legal system facing trial for his alleged participation in the deadly event.
