OLATHE, Kan. — Details of a violent rampage were heard on Monday in Johnson County as a preliminary hearing began for Frazier Cross Jr., the man accused of killing three people at Jewish centers on April 13, 2014.
Prosecutors accuse 74-year-old Cross of shooting and killing Dr. William Corporon and his grandson Reat Underwood at the Jewish Community Center in Overland Park, as well as Terri LaManno at neighboring retirement community Village Shalom.
Witnesses told a judge they saw Cross, who has a documented history tied to the Ku Klux Klan, pull a shotgun from his car on two occasions during the shootings. One of them said Cross made it clear he was seeking Jewish people to shoot.
Cross sat unshackled in his wheelchair, aided by an oxygen tank, while witnesses recalled the events of the fatal shootings.
Sergeant Marty Ingram told the judge he was working off-duty as a security guard at the Jewish Community Center and heard two shots fired at 1 p.m. that Sunday.
“We looked at each other, and I told him, from my experience, it sounded like two shotgun blasts. From that point on, you could see the entire front facade of the theatre was blown out,” Sgt. Ingram said.
Witness Maggie Hunker said she was in the parking lot at Village Shalom to visit a friend. Hunker said she feared for her life that rainy afternoon just after seeing Cross use a long-barreled gun to kill 53-year-old LaManno, who was there to visit her mother.
“I saw him pump it, like you’d pump a shotgun. Nothing happened, so he put the gun back in the car and took out another gun,” she testified.
Police testimony from Monday confirmed that officers found two guns in the white sedan Cross was driving. Overland Park Police Officer Amy Malone was called to the scene at Village Shalom, where Hunker directed her to LaManno’s body.
“I could see blood running from the driver’s side down the parking lot,” Ofc. Malone said.
Other police officers testified that Cross complained to them the nation was being overrun by Jewish people. Some officers said Cross went as far as to ask them if they had Aryan roots, asking if they’d like to join in his mission.
Cross’ hearing is expected to continue into Tuesday as more of the case’s 19 witnesses take the stand. Court officials say there’s a chance more testimony could be heard on Thursday.
Underwood’s mother is launching a new campaign to combat hate called. ‘SevenDays.’ The campaign is an effort started by Mindy Corporon, to promote acts of kindness.
According to the website the weeklong event is a, “challenge for young and old to embrace diversity across races, religions and cultures.”
It’s April 7th-13th and includes a walk, songwriting competition and talks.
To learn more visit:
