In Missouri, a man is now in police custody, facing serious charges after a tragic incident involving his wife's two sons. The Independence Police Department apprehended Terrill S. Anderson, 40, on Friday, charging him with second-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter, and two counts of armed criminal action.
The victims, 23-year-old Adonis Knight and 30-year-old Mario Batrez, lost their lives in a shocking turn of events.
Law enforcement officers responded to a distressing call reporting gunshots around 8:30 p.m. on October 29 at a residence in the southeast part of the city. The distressed caller, who happened to be Anderson's wife, revealed that her husband had shot her two sons.
Upon arrival, officers discovered the lifeless bodies of the victims in the kitchen. The official records only identify them as "Victim 1" and "Victim 2." The presence of four shell casings near the victims and four more in the kitchen trash can underscored the grim reality of the situation.
Surveillance footage captured most of the incident involving Anderson and the two brothers. It depicted confrontations in the basement and at the garage door. The video showed Anderson retrieving a handgun and then approaching Victim 1 in the lower living room, with the mother attempting to restrain her son.
Victim 1 was holding a knife, as mentioned in the affidavit, while Victim 2, in the kitchen, was unarmed. Anderson discharged "one or two warning shots" into the kitchen ceiling from the base of the stairs, according to the affidavit.
Despite their mother's efforts to escort her two sons out of the house, both returned. While inside, she continued to keep Victim 1 away from Anderson. A physical altercation ensued, with Victim 1 attempting to strike Anderson.
When Victim 1 made a second attempt to hit him, Anderson allegedly fired his weapon, causing the victim to fall to the floor. Shockingly, Anderson then shot Victim 2, who had not made any aggressive moves.
As stated in the detectives' report, "Victim 2 falls to the floor after the first shot and is laying face down. After falling to the floor [Anderson] shoots Victim 2 again. The defendant then turns back to Victim 1 who is laying on the ground and shoots him again. [Anderson] then turns back to Victim 2 and shoots him for the third time who is still face down." Notably, Anderson stood over Knight and Batrez during the second and third rounds of shooting, even stomping on one of the victims.
His wife called 911, and Anderson's three young biological children were upstairs at the time. During his interview with investigators, Anderson asserted self-defense, claiming he retrieved a gun from the garage after being assaulted and subsequently shot both victims.
According to Anderson, Victim 1 possessed a knife, and Victim 2 had a gun. However, the video evidence contradicted his claims, revealing that neither victim was armed at any point. Victim 2 was never in possession of a firearm. Anderson was taken into custody and is currently held on a $250,000 bond at the Jackson County Jail.
This tragic incident has left the family shattered. Mario Batrez, a dedicated father of two, and Adonis Knight, known for his strong family bonds, are deeply missed. Their loved ones seek justice for the untimely loss of these cherished family members.
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