KANSAS CITY —A second defendant has been convicted in the November 2019 fatal shootings of three persons in the 4500 block of South Benton in Kansas City, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.
A Jackson County jury Thursday convicted 48-year-old Victor Sykes, of three counts of Murder in the 1st Degree and three counts of Armed Criminal Action.
According to court records, Kansas City police officers were on patrol in the area of 45th and South Benton in Kansas City, when they heard gunshots. They soon observed a woman in the area. She appeared to have a rifle in her hands. They also saw a man walking in the area of 45th and South Benton. The woman got into a black sedan, but was quickly taken into custody.
The woman was identified as Lynnsey Jones. A firearm was found in the vehicle. An additional officer pursued the man, who was later identified as Victor Sykes.
He was taken into custody after a foot pursuit. Police found a male victim, apparently deceased, in the street. Rifle casings were recovered from near the victim. The front door of a residence was ajar. Police found another victim on the floor A thied victim was found in the residence, also deceased from a gunshot.
Jones told police she had gone to the residence to purchase narcotics. After she went inside and smoked marijuana with two unknown women, she told police, she went back outside and found two men arguing. Jones said the men had guns. She also admitted to shooting at all three victims -- later identified as 46-year-old Larona T. Jones; 44-year-old Larry T. Barnes and and 42-year-old Brandy Jones.
A judge has already sentenced co-defendant, Lynnsey D. Jones to three life sentences after she was convicted of the same counts by a Jackson County jury. Sykes will be sentenced on April 4.