In the early morning hours of February 2, 2025, a residence in the Northland neighborhood of Kansas City, Missouri, became the scene of a tragic triple homicide. The home, located in the 4100 block of Northwest 65th Street, was occupied by three generations of women living together: 73-year-old female Sherri Duncan, her daughter, and her granddaughter. The household also included the daughter’s ex-boyfriend, who had been residing with the family.
Tensions had reportedly been rising within the home regarding the living arrangements, specifically concerning the ex-boyfriend's continued presence in the house.
The situation escalated violently shortly after midnight when an argument broke out between the daughter and her ex-boyfriend about him moving out of the residence. According to a surviving family member who was present during the altercation, the dispute continued for approximately an hour before the man retrieved a firearm. The assailant allegedly opened fire on the occupants of the home, fatally striking Sherri Duncan, her 49-year-old daughter Jodie Hopcus, and her 24-year-old granddaughter Hailey Hopcus. The survivor, another granddaughter of Duncan, managed to escape the house despite being fired upon, with a bullet reportedly grazing her hair as she fled to a neighbor’s home to plead for help.
Law enforcement officers responded to the scene around 12:40 a.m. after receiving the distress call from the neighbor. Upon entering the residence, police discovered the lifeless bodies of the three women, who were pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators also found the family dog, which had been shot and killed during the rampage. The suspect had already fled the premises in a white 2020 Ford Expedition belonging to one of the victims. Authorities immediately launched a search for the vehicle and the gunman, alerting law enforcement agencies across the region.
The suspect was identified as 50-year-old Armando Navarro Jr. He was located later that same day near Abilene, Kansas, approximately two hours west of the crime scene, after his vehicle became disabled. Navarro was taken into custody by local authorities and subsequently extradited back to Missouri. Prosecutors charged him with three counts of first-degree murder, one count of first-degree assault for the attack on the surviving victim, four counts of armed criminal action, and one count of animal abuse. He was held without bond, with the Platte County Prosecutor’s Office indicating they were considering pursuing the death penalty due to the severity of the crime.
