COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri prosecutor says a 20-year-old who was slain after fatally shooting a community activist wouldn’t have faced charges.

Boone County prosecuting attorney Dan Knight said in a letter released Wednesday that the investigation showed that Ahmonta Harris broke into 20-year-old Deonte Gainwell’s home in November and tried to rob him. Knight says that’s when Gainwell killed Harris.

Before Gainwell was found shot to death last week in north Columbia, he defended himself on Facebook, saying Harris was found dead with “gloves on, blacked out outfit and a mask and gun next to his body.” He told people to “stop slandering” his name.

Police spokesman Jeff Pitts said the investigation is ongoing and that there have been no arrests in Gainwell’s death. He said “police are looking at all the different avenues and if a link does come up, they will look into that further.”

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly said she wants a review of state sentencing guidelines to reduce overcrowding in prisons, a move that could find bipartisan support in the Republican-controlled Legislature.

The Democratic governor said in an interview Tuesday with The Topeka Capital-Journal’s editorial board that she would like to see more people receiving treatment rather than spending time in a cell.

Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning, R-Overland Park, said he believes finding ways to reduce the prison population “would get a lot of attention.”

“It’s been talked about not only in Kansas but nationally,” Denning said.

Most of the discussion has been is in relation to the legalization of medicinal marijuana, Denning said.

But the governor said many people in prison don’t belong there.

“Aside from overflowing prisons, they lose their job, they lose their family, and they also become unemployable,” Kelly said.

Kelly, whose first job out of college was at a boys’ prison in Illinois, told the newspaper that she wants Kansas Secretary of Corrections Roger Werholtz to evaluate the state corrections system.

Rehabilitation programs elsewhere have led to declines in recidivism, she said.

“Unless we want to give up on these people and pay for them for the rest of their lives, it’s a wise investment,” Kelly said.

LINCOLN COUNTY, NE — Law enforcement authorities arrested two people and seized 50 pounds of high grade marijuana during a traffic stop on Interstate 80 near North Platte, according to a media release from the Nebraska State Highway Patrol.

Just after 1:30 p.m. Monday, a trooper observed an eastbound 2018 Chevrolet Malibu fail to signal a lane change near mile marker 181 on I-80. During the traffic stop, the trooper became suspicious of criminal activity.

A search of the vehicle revealed 50 pounds of high grade marijuana in large garbage bags in the trunk. The marijuana was contained in vacuum sealed bags.

The driver, Thanh Ho, 51, and passenger, Joe Nguyen, 56, both of Westminster, Colorado, were arrested for possession of marijuana – more than one pound, possession with intent to deliver, and no drug tax stamp.

Both suspects remain in custody in Lincoln County, according to online jail records.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — The former coach and a choreographer for a Kansas high school dance team are denying they prevented a black student from performing during an event because her skin was “too dark” and clashed with the costumes.

Former student Camille Sturdivant has sued the Blue Valley School District, alleging she was discriminated against after complaining about how she was treated.

Choreographer Kevin Murakami released a statement Tuesday saying the allegation was “absolute nonsense.” He says he treated all members of the Blue Valley Northwest dancers with respect.

The lawsuit also alleges Murakami and former coach Carley Fine exchanged racist text messages about Sturdivant after she was named to the University of Missouri dance team. Fine was fired a day after the principal became aware of the messages.

Fine told WDAF-TV the accusations are “false and/or misleading.” She says her lawyers told her not to comment further.

Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Ben Gardner has made good on his wager with Massachusettes State Trooper Dustin Fitch.

The two had a wager that the trooper whose team lost the AFC Championship would make a public safety video while wearing the winning team’s jersey. The losing trooper also had to send a lock of his hair to the winner.

 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The government says several people are targets or subjects of a criminal investigation into a Missouri tourist boat that sank in July, killing 17 people.

Prosecutors say in a court filing Friday in a civil case that the investigation of Ripley Entertainment and other individuals remains ongoing even after the boat’s captain was criminally charged.

Kenneth Scott McKee has pleaded not guilty to indictment accusing him of negligence in operating a boat in unsafe conditions at Table Rock Lake.

Ripley Entertainment says it doesn’t know how many targets prosecutors are examining.

Prosecutors are seeking to intervene in a civil case in which Ripley Entertainment is asking for a ruling on the applicability of a law that limits damages a ship owner has to pay.

MANHATTAN — A member of the Kansas State men’s basketball team had an encounter with police early Tuesday.

Cartier Diarra, 20, was cited Tuesday for driving on a suspended or revoked license, In addition, the tags on the vehicle he was driving had expired, according to a report released by the Riley County Police Department.

Diarra a red-shirt sophomore from Florence, South Carolina played 8 minutes, scored one point and grabbed two rebounds in the Wildcats 58-45 win over Texas Tech Tuesday night.

 

 

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A lawsuit making its way through federal court alleges that a Missouri jeweler was trashed online by a Kansas competitor who used a customer’s phone to write the bad review.

Meierotto Jewelers, of Kansas City, Missouri, has sued Karats Jewelers, of Overland Park, Kansas, and its owner, Akshay Anand.

After a review described Meierotto’s as “pushy,” an employee reached out to the apparent poster. The woman said in a<a href=”https://www.facebook.com/meierottojewelers/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”> Facebook conversation</a> that was submitted into evidence that she didn’t post the review but maybe someone else had. She said Anand walked away with her phone during a visit.

Anand said he was “flabbergasted” by the claim. He and his business filed a counterclaim Tuesday, alleging Karats also was wronged. Both sides are seeking damages.