On a cold Saturday night in Kansas City, Missouri, on January 26, 2019, 17-year-old Fernando Perez was fatally shot. That evening, Perez and two other teenagers were shot near Ashland Square Park in the 2200 block of Cypress Avenue. After the shooting, the three teens drove about half a mile to a fire station at 22nd Street and Hardesty Avenue, seeking help. First responders found all three male victims inside the vehicle, suffering from gunshot wounds.
Perez was the only one who succumbed to his injuries, while the other two teens were wounded.
The investigation into the triple shooting revealed a plot to commit a robbery. Angel G. Perea, who was 16 at the time, had planned the robbery with another individual, as evidenced by Facebook communications. According to witnesses, Perea had arranged to buy a gun from one of the victims. The intention was to rob the victim during this transaction. During the attempted robbery, Perea and an accomplice opened fire, resulting in the death of Fernando Perez and the injury of his two companions.
In July 2019, prosecutors announced that Angel G. Perea would be charged as an adult in connection with the homicide. He faced charges of second-degree murder, first-degree robbery, two counts of second-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon, and five counts of armed criminal action. In January 2020, Perea pleaded guilty to the charges, with the exception of one count of armed criminal action and the charge of unlawful use of a weapon, which were dismissed. Subsequently, in June 2020, he was sentenced to 17 years in prison for his role in the fatal shooting.
