Kansas City News Blog

Melba J. Walker

Melba J. Walker told detectives with the Kansas City Police that she would "confess" to shooting and killing Jeanette Juarez Saturday morning if the police would release her daughter-in-law. Jackson County prosecutors charged Melba J. Walker with second-degree murder and armed criminal action today.

Court records claim Melba Walker took a gun from her 29-year-old son Corinthians E. Walker, fatally shot Juarez and attempted to shoot a witness.

The witness told police that the shooting stemmed from an incident on March 4 in which Corinthians Walker was robbed. Walker believed the witness had set him up -- and allegedly busted into the witness' house, demanded information and fired a gun.

On March 6, Walker called the witness and wanted to talk. The witness agreed, but took Juarez with her "in case something happened." Everyone was drinking at Walker's house at 5405 Norton Avenue and everything seemed cool. Walker gave the witness $20, but then told 24-year-old Sivita Miller-Walker to go get his gun.

The witness wanted to leave when Miller-Walker returned with the gun, court records say. The witness and Juarez got in a SUV, but Corinthians Walker followed with the gun. Court records allege that Corinthians Walker handed the gun to his mother, Melba Walker. Sivita Miller-Walker allegedly yelled "shoot her," and Melba Walker started firing shots into the vehicle. Bullets struck Juarez. The witness ran as Melba Walker allegedly shot at her.

KCPD officer arrived and arrested all three Walkers. Sivita Miller-Walker told police that she saw Melba Walker firing shots into the vehicle and ran inside. Corinthians Walker claimed he watched his mother gun down the victim and shoot at the witness. He told police that he took the gun and threw it -- and his clothes -- into the river.

In October 2004, Walker pleaded guilty to felony domestic assault. She received a suspended sentence and successfully finished probation.

Harvard Court homicide update: Kansas City Police identified the 27-year-old woman as Katia Lainez, who was found fatally shot in her apartment Friday afternoon. Police are still looking Lainez' 4-year-old daughter, Allyson Coralles. Police are also looking for Allyson Coralles' biological father, Luis Coralles.

Darreon Murray

Darreon Murray tribute: A Facebook group has been started in memory of 17-year-old Darreon Murray, who was killed in a shooting early Saturday morning on Interstate 70 near the Van Brunt Boulevard exit. Murray was a basketball player at Hogan Prep Academy.