On the evening of January 11, 2019, law enforcement officials in Kansas City, Missouri, were dispatched to an apartment complex located in the 1100 block of Hardesty Avenue following reports of gunfire. Upon arrival at the scene, officers discovered 67-year-old male Joseph Mason inside his residence, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Despite the response of emergency services, Mason succumbed to his injuries, and his death was subsequently investigated as a homicide.
Investigators
determined that the violence stemmed from an attempted robbery targeting the victim’s residence. According to findings released by the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office, a suspect had arrived at Mason's apartment with the intent to steal marijuana. When Mason answered the door, he was confronted by an armed individual holding a handgun. A struggle reportedly ensued between the two men, resulting in Mason being fatally shot. The assailant then fled the scene, allegedly taking marijuana from the apartment.
In June 2019, authorities announced the arrest of a suspect in connection with the homicide. Jacob T. Everson, a Kansas City resident, was charged with murder in the second degree, robbery in the first degree, and two counts of armed criminal action. During the investigation, Everson reportedly admitted to police that he had gone to the apartment to commit the robbery which escalated into the fatal shooting. Prosecutors requested a significant bond as the legal proceedings commenced against the defendant.
