On a Wednesday evening in September of 2017, the life of 22-year-old Hispanic male, Jose Miguel Morales, was tragically cut short in a burst of violence that also claimed the life of another man and left a third critically injured. The incident unfolded in Kensington Park, located in the 2900 block of State Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas. It was in this public space that Morales and 26-year-old Fabian Arriaga were discovered, both having been fatally shot.
The Wyandotte County Sheriff's
Office was tasked with the investigation into the triple shooting. Details of what precipitated the violent encounter were not immediately released to the public, as authorities worked to piece together the events of that night. The community was left seeking answers as investigators appealed to the public for any information that might lead to an arrest, encouraging witnesses to contact the TIPS Hotline.
The investigation ultimately led to the identification and arrest of a suspect. Jose Varela Jr. was charged in connection with the killings of both Morales and Arriaga. In August of 2019, Varela was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder for his role in the fatal shootings. He subsequently received two life sentences for the crimes. Under the terms of his sentence, he will be required to serve a minimum of 25 years in prison before he becomes eligible for parole.
