In the early morning hours of Monday, March 8, 2021, a violent incident unfolded at the Executive Inn and Suites located along East U.S. 40 Highway in Independence, Missouri. Officers from the Independence Police Department were dispatched to the motel after reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, they discovered the door to one of the rooms partially open. Inside, lying behind the door in a significant amount of blood, was the male victim, Tomas Galvan.
He was suffering from a gunshot wound to the head and was quickly transported to a local hospital, where he subsequently succumbed to his injuries.
The investigation revealed that Galvan had contacted two acquaintances earlier that morning to request a ride. The three men were gathering in the hotel room when a dispute arose concerning a stolen air compressor. The situation escalated rapidly as the men drew firearms. According to witness statements and court records, Galvan attempted to grab one of the weapons during the confrontation, at which point he was fatally shot. Before fleeing the scene, the perpetrators took several of Galvan's personal belongings, including his shoes and cellular phone.
Surveillance footage from the hotel played a crucial role in identifying the suspects, capturing images of them leaving the premises in a specific vehicle. Police traced the car to 26-year-old Steven T. Decker of Independence. Further investigation uncovered a dramatic confession; later that same day, Decker went to pick up his six-year-old son from school. A school official reported to authorities that Decker appeared visibly distraught and was crying, overheard saying that he was 'going to prison for 25 years.' When detectives contacted him, he reportedly expressed remorse, stating he never intended for the tragedy to happen.
Authorities arrested Decker at his home that Monday afternoon. A second suspect, identified as 29-year-old Tyler Russell of Lee’s Summit, was also implicated in the crime. Russell, described by witnesses as having one arm, was identified by Decker's son. Prosecutors from the Jackson County Prosecutor's Office charged both men with second-degree murder, first-degree robbery, and armed criminal action in connection with Galvan's death. Each was held on a $100,000 cash-only bond as the case proceeded through the legal system.
