A resident in northwest Missouri is being credited for warning off a potential thief by discharging several rounds from a shotgun according to the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office.

The office said Tuesday around 9 p.m. the Sheriff’s Office and the Missouri State Highway Patrol responded to a call of attempted theft of one or more motor vehicles, one of which a Polaris Ranger from private property in Chula.

“Investigation shows adult while male suspect was trespassing on private property and allegedly may have attempted to steal a pickup as the foot tracks in the snow show the person at or near the pickup,” Sheriff Steve Cox said. “The suspect also allegedly attempted to steal an ATV and even started the vehicle.”

Cox said that at some point the property owner realized he was about to become a victim of vehicle theft and while armed with a shotgun subsequently discharged 2 rounds in a safe direction while warning the suspect.

“Investigation shows the property owner was careful and prudent with the firearm,” Cox said. “The suspect then fled on foot and deputies tracked the person to a business east of Chula where it was learned a male had arrived in the parking lot and was picked up by unknown person and left the area.”

LCSO and MSHP are following up on information and said the same suspect may have been involved in a call of shots fired in a nearby county not long after this incident.

“Fortunately no one was injured and no actual property stolen from the Chula residence,” Cox said.

The investigation continues.

The cause of two power outages on two separate occasions in Doniphan County is being blamed on shots fired.

Westar Energy said power went out around 6 p.m. on Sunday Jan. 17 and was restored around 10 p.m. The Sunday prior power was interrupted around 7:40 p.m. and restored around 9 p.m. according to the power company.  Areas impacted included Troy, Denton, Leona, Bendena and several other rural areas in Doniphan County.  Both outages affected around 2200 customers.

“In both cases the power outage was caused by a downed power line,” said Shane Batchelder a Spokesperson for Westar Energy. “They were pretty close together. There were two spans of lines and it appears that someone was either hunting or shooting in the area and shot those lines.”

Batchelder said crews were on scene as of 10:30 Monday morning inspecting the lines for any additional damage that could cause future problems.

“If there was somebody hunting there could be other damage that we may not see right now,” Batchelder said. “Visual and infrared inspections are complete and no additional damage was found. It appears the lines were damaged from shots, but it’s not clear what shooting activity was taking place.”

Batchelder said he is still trying to find out if a police report was filed.

The State Fire Marshall’s office is investigating the cause of a fire that destroyed a home east of St. Joseph Monday afternoon that was the site of a double murder last July.

According to Col. Bill Puett with the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department investigators with the sheriff’s department were called out after 3 p.m. Monday to assist Fire Crews.

“There were concern about contents,” Puett said. “We’re working with the Fire Marshall’s Office.”

Extensive damage was caused to the home located on 8610 Hurlingen Road.  That home was also the site where James and Beverly Johnson were found dead of gunshot wounds.  Their grandson, 16-year-old Joseph Johnson pleaded guilty to the shootings and is slated for a sentencing hearing on March 4.

Puett said fire crews from San Antonio responded and had to call for back-up.  No one has been living in the home since the couple’s deaths. Puett said Citizen’s Bank and Trust is the executor for the property.

The investigation continues.

The Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra is coming to St. Joseph from New Zealand this February.

The Orchestra will take place at the Historic Missouri Theatre on Saturday, Feb. 20th at 7:30 p.m.

Earlier this fall the Orchestra sent 30 ukuleles to Saint Joseph to be distributed through the Performing Arts Association.  PAA teamed up with Hosea Elementary’s music teacher Joshua Lock who has been working with the students.  Hosea students will also have a chance to play with the Orchestra on stage at the theatre.

The group, features eleven ukuleles anchored by a double bass and was co-founded in 2005 in Willington, New Zealand. The song selections include a mix of modern and traditional tunes.

The PAA said tickets are on sale now and range from $12-$42.

For more information call the PAA at (816) 279-1225.

The body of a Savannah man has been found across state lines after he was reported missing more than a week prior.

Michael Steeby was found in Doniphan County, Kan. Friday afternoon after an extensive search.

The Savannah Police Department said Steeby was originally reported missing to the Savannah Police Department on Wednesday Jan. 6.  Steeby had left his residence on Monday Jan. 4th and family members had reported they had not been in contact with him since then.

Friday a plane from the Missouri State Highway Patrol searching the area along the Missouri River looking for Steeby found his vehicle on a levee in Doniphan County, Kan.  His body was found shortly after by investigators with the Missouri Division of Drug and Crime Control.

The Doniphan County Sheriff’s Office conducted an investigation at the scene and the Doniphan County Coroner has requested an autopsy be performed to try and determine the cause of death.

The Savannah Police Department said there were no obvious signs of foul play but are awaiting autopsy results.

As we learn more we will update.

The St. Joseph Police Department has released its annual crime summary that shows a spike in violent crime in 2015.

Total crime reported to the department was up for 2015. There were 11,123 crimes reported in 2015 compared to 10,582 in 2014.

There were 7 murders in 2015, that’s the highest number the department said St. Joseph has seen since 2010 when there were also 7 homicides reported.

“That’s one of the areas of crime where there’s no real solution out there for preventing murders, it’s a really difficult thing,” said Chief Chris Connally with the St. Joseph Police Department.

All violent crime was up for 2015 with simple assaults leading the way with an increase of 295 reported.

Motor vehicle theft increased by 137 over 2014 with 484 reported last year.

“More than half of auto theft is preventable. Most of our auto thefts quite frequently seems to be cars left running,” Chief Connally said.

To see the full list click: 2015 CRIME SUMMARY PART 1 and click:  2015 CRIME SUMMARY PART 2.

“We review these numbers on a daily, monthly, it’s something that we continue to do all the time,” Chief Connally said. “To really bring crime down we need the help of the community.  It’s something that extends far beyond everything the police can do.  We need people to report things. Obviously the increased workload and with the dramatic increase in simple assaults as much as possible we need to get there before the assaults occur.”