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More than one shooter suspected in murder
Investigation continues into shooting
By Dustin Kass, dustinKass@miconews.com
Six months ago today, Billy Gene Cooper of Osawatomie was shot and killed apparently as he answered the front door of the home he rented on Chestnut Avenue.
This week, for the first time, Osawatomie police officials have said more than one person fired the shots, and Osawatomie Assistant Police Chief Bob Butters said the department has “developed” multiple suspects in the case.
Osawatomie officers, with continued assistance from the Miami County Sheriff’s Office, have been investigating the shooting since April 8. At 10:18 p.m. that night, officers found Cooper, 41, in his living room, dead of apparent gunshot wounds, Butters said the following day. He said nine shots were fired at Cooper, several piercing the front door, though police have not disclosed how many shots struck the victim.
On Monday, Butters said more than one person pulled the trigger on those nine shots, though he did not disclose any additional information on the events of that night.
Police have now labeled more than one individual a “suspect” in the shooting, Butters said. It marked the first time police have said they have suspects in the case since the arrest of a Louisburg man on a murder charge in May. The charge was dismissed and the man was released in late May, in part due to “a recanting witness or witnesses,” according to a press release issued by the Miami County Attorney’s Office at that time.
The arrest, and subsequent release, of the Louisburg man has caused police to move with extra prudence in the murder investigation, Butters said. He noted that the change in witness testimony threw officers off initially, slowing down the investigation.
“A lot of times if these things don’t get resolved quickly, it takes a while,” Butters said.
With help from the sheriff’s office and the Johnson County Crime Lab, the investigation continues to move forward, and Butters said he remains confident the shooters will be caught.
“It just takes time,” he said.
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This week, for the first time, Osawatomie police officials have said more than one person fired the shots, and Osawatomie Assistant Police Chief Bob Butters said the department has “developed” multiple suspects in the case.
Osawatomie officers, with continued assistance from the Miami County Sheriff’s Office, have been investigating the shooting since April 8. At 10:18 p.m. that night, officers found Cooper, 41, in his living room, dead of apparent gunshot wounds, Butters said the following day. He said nine shots were fired at Cooper, several piercing the front door, though police have not disclosed how many shots struck the victim.
On Monday, Butters said more than one person pulled the trigger on those nine shots, though he did not disclose any additional information on the events of that night.
Police have now labeled more than one individual a “suspect” in the shooting, Butters said. It marked the first time police have said they have suspects in the case since the arrest of a Louisburg man on a murder charge in May. The charge was dismissed and the man was released in late May, in part due to “a recanting witness or witnesses,” according to a press release issued by the Miami County Attorney’s Office at that time.
The arrest, and subsequent release, of the Louisburg man has caused police to move with extra prudence in the murder investigation, Butters said. He noted that the change in witness testimony threw officers off initially, slowing down the investigation.
“A lot of times if these things don’t get resolved quickly, it takes a while,” Butters said.
With help from the sheriff’s office and the Johnson County Crime Lab, the investigation continues to move forward, and Butters said he remains confident the shooters will be caught.
“It just takes time,” he said.