Jackson County prosecutors announced charges Tuesday against a 49-year-old man after he allegedly opened fire at a group of people on a Kansas City front porch in August, killing two men.
Prosecutors charged Oliver L. Todd of Kansas City with assault, two counts of murder and three counts of armed criminal action in the Aug. 29 shooting in the 3200 block of College Avenue. The gunfire killed Travis C. Pernell, 24, and Melvin L. Taylor, 29, and wounded a third victim, who ran to a fire station for help.
According to court records, Todd was turned away from a gathering by a homeowner. He started an argument with the homeowner and Taylor intervened. Taylor pushed him, called him a punk and told him to leave, the records said. Todd allegedly stormed off, then returned with a gun.
The month before the shooting, Todd was paroled from a Missouri prison. Several months after the shooting, he was picked up on a parole violation and remains in prison.
Christine Vendel, cvendel@kcstar.com
| Christine Vendel, cvendel@kcstar.com
