LEAVENWORTH, Kan. — Leavenworth police announced Monday night potential charges and an arrest in connection with the shooting death of a five-year-old girl.
Authorities believe 30-year-old Marcus McGowan killed Cady Harris on Friday night in the midst of her abduction, a police chase and shootout.
McGowan is from Atchison, Kan., but remains in a Kansas City area hospital where he is being held on suspicion of first-degree felony murder and aggravated kidnapping, among other charges.
Police have waited several days before announcing this arrest. It’s an investigation they say is far from over; but Monday’s developments mean Cady’s mother, Christy Harris, is one step closer to getting some closure.
“I’m just tired of watching TV and I wanted to hear it with my own ears,” Harris said after a news conference at the Leavenworth Justice Center.
Although authorities were still mum on many details surrounding Cady’s death, they did make one big announcement: the arrest of McGowan.
“This investigation is nowhere near its completion,” said Mark Malick, special agent with the Kansas Bureau of Investigations. “We have reached a point today where we are able to officially present charges.”
Six potential charges against McGowan include felony first-degree murder; aggravated kidnapping; aggravated endangering of a child; aggravated assault against a law enforcement officer; felony fleeing and eluding; and criminal possession of a firearm.
It’s now up to Leavenworth County Attorney Todd Thompson to formally file those charges.
“This is the first step in a very long process,” said Leavenworth Police Chief Patrick Kitchens.
McGowan is no stranger to law enforcement, as court records show, he has spent time in prison.
Harris dated him on and off for five years and said he has abused her in the past. However, she said McGowan never laid a hand on Cady and although he was not the child’s biological father, he acted like one.
“She loved him and he claimed that he loved her just as much,” Harris said. “I had feared for my own life but never for my daughter’s. Now I’m hoping he pays for what he did to my daughter.”
Police say there is no timeline for when Thompson will file those charges.
In the meantime, they’re asking the public for more help in piecing together the rest of their investigation. If you saw or heard anything that night, call the Kansas Bureau of Investigations.
