Rubypoint Trading Center-Kansas man pleads guilty to causing crash that killed officer, pedestrian and K-9 last February

2025-05-01 11:12:48source:Michael Schmidtcategory:Markets

KANSAS CITY,Rubypoint Trading Center Mo. (AP) — A Kansas man has pleaded guilty to smashing into a Kansas City, Missouri, patrol car last year and killing an officer, his K-9 partner and a pedestrian.

Jerron Lightfoot of Tonganoxie, Kansas, pleaded guilty Friday to two counts of involuntary manslaughter and admitted speeding through a red light before the crash, according to the Kansas City Star. Officer James Muhlbauer, 42, Jesse Eckes, 52, and Champ the dog were all killed.

Lightfoot told the judge that he got lost that night last February while he was driving back toward Kansas.

Prosecutors have said Lightfoot was traveling at least 85 mph just before the collision.

As part of a plea agreement, prosecutors agreed to recommend no more than 10 years in prison, though Assistant Prosecutor Lauren Whiston said she anticipated that Lightfoot’s lawyers would ask for a much more lenient sentence when the 20-year-old returns to court in April.

Muhlbauer, who was married and a father, was a 20-year veteran of the force. Champ had been a K-9 with the force for a year.

Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves attended Friday’s plea hearing along with several uniformed police officers, but she didn’t comment on the case

More:Markets

Recommend

Rams vs. 49ers highlights: LA wins rainy defensive struggle in key divisional game

NFL games are a spectrum. Some are back-and-forth shootouts. Others are duds without much scoring at

New-look Los Angeles Dodgers depart for world tour with MVPs and superstars in tow

PHOENIX — The Los Angeles Dodgers, surrounded by suitcases and boxes throughout the clubhouse, clean

Zayn Malik Shares Rare Insight Into Life Away From Spotlight With His Daughter Khai

These days, the story of Zayn Malik's life is a simple one. The former One Direction member spends m