OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A third man has been convicted in the killing of a suburban Kansas City gun shop owner during an attempted robbery.

The trial for 22 -year-old Nicquan Midgyett, of Kansas City, Missouri, was underway when he pleaded guilty Wednesday to first-degree murder, attempted aggravated robbery, and conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery. He previously pleaded guilty to aggravated battery. Sentencing is set for March 8.

Gunfire erupted during the January 2015 attempt to rob a Shawnee, Kansas, gun store called She’s a Pistol, which catered to women. Forty-four-year-old Jon Bieker was killed and three would-be robbers, including Midgyett, were wounded.

Two other defendants, Hakeem Malik and Londro Emanuel Patterson, have been sentenced to life in prison. A mistrial was declared last month in the case of the fourth defendant, De’Anthony Wiley.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – The director of the Missouri Veterans Commission has resigned amid complaints about care at the St. Louis Veterans Home.

New commission chairman Tim Noonan after a closed meeting Wednesday announced Executive Director Larry Kay’s immediate resignation. Kay didn’t immediately respond to a request from The Associated Press for comment after the meeting.

The commission picked Missouri Air National Guard Col. Grace Link to be interim director.

Kay’s departure comes after several reviews found no wrongdoing at the St. Louis home. But an independent investigation called by Republican Gov. Eric Greitens found substandard care there.

Greitens in response this week replaced five Veterans Commission members and said both Kay and the home’s administrator should be fired.

It’s up to the executive director to decide whether to fire Administrator Rolando Carter.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. –  Seven Springfield, Mo., residents are among 11 defendants indicted by a federal grand jury Tuesday for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute at least a kilogram of heroin in Greene County, Mo., according to Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri.

Jovan J. Denson, 39, Gerald E. Pope, 41, Edward J. Smith, 51, Christine D. Jones, 26, Benjamin J.H. Goodman, 22, Earl E. Jones, 49, and Cierra Nash, 24, all of Springfield; Oriola J. Ijaola, 40, of Chicago, Ill.; Deanna J. Miller, 47, of Orlando, Fla.; Amy E. Mitchell, 45, address unknown, and Reginald Perkins, age and address unknown, were charged in a 12-count superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield.

Today’s indictment alleges that all of the defendants participated in a conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin in Greene County from March 1, 2016, to May 18, 2017.

In addition to the drug-trafficking conspiracy, Denson is charged with five counts of distributing heroin and one count of money laundering. The indictment alleges that Denson used $9,500 from illegal drug trafficking to make a down payment on a vehicle.

Ijaola is also charged with one count of distributing heroin. Miller, Jones and Smith are each also charged with one count of possessing heroin with the intent to distribute.

Pope is also charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The indictment alleges that Pope was in possession of a Ruger 9mm semi-automatic pistol on May 18, 2017.

The indictment also contains forfeiture allegations, which would require Denson to forfeit to the government $13,131 seized by law enforcement officers and Pope to forfeit to the government $4,852 seized by law enforcement officers.
Today’s superseding indictment replaces the original indictment, which was returned by a federal grand jury on June 13, 2017. The superseding indictment includes Ijaola and Perkins as additional defendants; Brian J. Brown, 36, and Corbin S. Rice, 26, both of Springfield, were previously charged in the original indictment and have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute at least a kilogram heroin.

Larson cautioned that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A Lawrence teenager who pleaded guilty to killing his grandmother wants to withdraw that plea.

Eighteen-year-old Jaered Long was scheduled to be sentenced Tuesday for second-degree murder in the December 2015 death of 67-year-old Deborah Bretthauer.

Instead, Long’s attorney, Forrest Lowry, told the Douglas County court that his client wanted to withdraw his plea.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports a hearing was scheduled for Feb. 20 to consider the request, or to sentence Long if the request is denied.

Authorities said Bretthauer was stabbed dozens of times with a knife while she was in bed in her Lawrence apartment.

One of Long’s therapists previously testified that she asked Bretthauer to consider residential treatment for her grandson’s worsening abusive and threatening behavior but Bretthauer didn’t agree to the plan.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A suburban Kansas City couple whose home was raided by police in a fruitless search for marijuana has lost their lawsuit against Johnson County.

A federal court ruled Tuesday that Adlynn and Robert Harte of Leawood should not receive any monetary damages for the 2012 SWAT-style raid by deputies looking for a marijuana growing operation.

The Hartes contended that deputies lied to get a warrant to search their home.

Law enforcement targeted the home after Robert Harte and his children went to a hydroponics gardening store. Deputies then took loose tea leaves from their garbage. Deputies said the leaves registered positive for marijuana but they were never submitted to a lab for more definitive tests.

Attorneys for the Hartes say they will appeal.

JOPLIN, Mo. (AP) – A Missouri woman has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for killing her fiance’s 2-year-old daughter by repeatedly slamming the girl’s head on a floor when she refused to eat.

The Joplin Globe reports that 22-year-old Tearra Olson was sentenced Tuesday for second-degree murder and abuse of a child resulting in the August 2015 death of Emmalata “Emma” Hoeft.

The girl’s father, Albert O’Connor, is serving seven years in prison for child endangerment in the case. He admitted to investigators that he and Olson left the girl home alone on four of the days in the week preceding her death while they went to work.

He also admitted to having witnessed Olson being abusive before the girl’s death, including stuffing a sock in her mouth when she was crying.

LENEXA, Kan. (AP) — The Johnson County District Attorney says an off-duty police officer who shot and killed an armed man who was threatening customers at the Costco in Lenexa will not face any charges.

District Attorney Steve Howe said Wednesday that Kansas City, Kansas, police Capt. Michael Howell saved innocent lives during the confrontation on Nov. 26.

Ronald Hunt entered the store with a gun and was threatening to shoot customers. While store employees and customers were being evacuated, Howell identified himself as a police officer and told Hunt to drop the weapon.

Investigators say Hunt ignored the commands and threatened Howell, who shot him.

No one else in the store was injured.

Howe said Howell acted in self-defense and in defense of others, which is allowed by Kansas law.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) – Authorities say a Columbia homicide victim was killed during a home invasion that is believed to be drug related.

Police said in a news release that suspects targeted the home where 28-year-old Augustus Roberts was killed early Monday. A 24-year-old woman also received minor injuries when the suspects forced their way into the home.

Anyone with information about his death is urged to call police.

HARRISONVILLE, Mo. (AP) – A Missouri teen has been charged with stabbing a police dog in the neck while fleeing.

Seventeen-year-old Zachary Wilbanks of Harrisonville, was charged Tuesday with misdemeanor counts of resisting arrest and assaulting a police animal. No attorney is listed for him in online court records.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release that the dog, named Champ, was stabbed Monday night near the Harrisonville Wal-Mart. The release says the handler heard a yelp after losing sight of Champ when the dog followed Wilbanks as he ran into a field. The suspect was taken into custody a short time later.

After finding blood in Champ’s kennel, the dog was taken to the veterinarian, where a 1½ inch wound was found. The dog is resting and expected to recover.