INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — Police continued to investigate a fatal shooting that happened early Sunday morning near Truman and S. Sterling Ave.
Early on Sunday, police had asked for the public’s help in finding Nicholas L. Cannon, the suspect in the shooting. Cannon surrendered to Independence Police at police headquarters Sunday evening at approximately 8 p.m.
FOX 4 was speaking to Cannon’s grandfather, Donald Carroll, when he put his grandson on the phone, while he was still being sought by police.
Cannon said, “I’m not running. I’m just getting my ducks in a row and making sure that I’m safe and making sure that my daughter is safe, just wanting to get everything in line before I go.”
Cannon told his family he went looking for his girlfriend, also the mother of his daughter, early on Sunday because she didn’t return home.
“Nick had his daughter with him. He wasn’t expecting no trouble,” Carroll said.
Carroll said Cannon went over to the home on Sterling Ave. They said that’s where his girlfriend’s mother lives.
They said Cannon found his girlfriend inside with another man. Cannon told relatives the man tried teaching for a gun, so Cannon took out his gun and shot the man. They said he has a license to carry and this was simply self-defense.
“Without a doubt, without a doubt. I can say whatever I want to say, but without a doubt,” Cannon said when FOX 4’s Gia Vang asked him if he considered the shooting to be self defense.
Police said the victim, Justin A. Sneegas, 35, of Shawnee, Kan. later died at the hospital and Cannon took off. Cannon’s grandfather has been on and off the phone with Cannon all day.
“That absolutely broke my heart,” Carroll said. “I feel sorry for the guy that got shot. I feel sorry for his parents or his kids or any of his relatives.”
Charges had not been filed on Monday morning, but Independence Police Public Information Officer Tom Gentry said they were expected to be filed sometime on Monday.
Watch our initial report:
