BOURBON COUNTY – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), and the Fort Scott Police Department have arrested 23-year-old Dawson J. Mitchell, the person of interest connected to the murders of Melissa Mitchell and Leonard Zimmerman, according to a media release from the KBI.
Mitchell was arrested at approximately 1 p.m. on Wednesday near the intersection of 5th St. and Judson St. in Fort Scott.
He is being held on requested charges of theft of a firearm, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and unlawful possession of controlled substances. He was then booked into the Bourbon County Jail.
Currently, Mitchell has not been charged related to the murders, according to the KBI.
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BOURBON COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating after two victims were found shot in their Fort Scott home on Tuesday night, according to a media release from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.
Just after 7:30p.m. Tuesday, the Fort Scott Police Department received a 911 call from a subject who came home to find a female family member had been shot.
When police arrived at 402 Main St. in Fort Scott, they located 48-year-old Melissa L. Mitchell who had died from a gunshot wound. They also discovered 53-year-old Leonard D. Zimmerman deceased inside the residence. Both victims were pronounced dead at the scene.
The victims’ son, Dawson J. Mitchell, 23, of Fort Scott, is a person of interest and is wanted for questioning connected to the case. Investigators are working to locate him at this time.
If you know the whereabouts of 23-year-old Dawson J. Mitchell, you are asked to contact the Fort Scott Police Department at 620-223-1700 or the KBI at 1-800-KS-CRIME. Mitchell is expected to be armed and dangerous. Do not approach him, but immediately call police.
Mitchell is a white male, 5-foot- 7 in. tall, 160 pounds. He has blonde hair and blue eyes. Mitchell was last seen wearing blue jeans, a brown Carhartt-style coat and a baseball cap that is light in color in the front and dark in color in the back.