Prosecutor to seek death penalty in Missouri officer’s death

Published March 22, 2023 4:59 PM

LIBERTY, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri prosecutor has announced plans to seek the death penalty against a Kansas City man charged with fatally shooting a police officer during a traffic stop. Clay County Prosecutor Zachary Thompson said Tuesday that Joshua Rocha could qualify under Missouri law for the punishment because the July 2022 killing of North Kansas City police officer Daniel Vasquez was “wantonly vile,” the victim was a law enforcement officer and Rocha was seeking to avoid arrest. The Kansas City Star reports that the prosecutor’s office has not pursued the death penalty for a defendant since 1994, about 28 years ago.

Article Topic Follows: AP Missouri

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