Update: Suspect in Rich Hill Shooting taken into custody

On 3/30/2024 at approximately 0615 hrs dispatch received a call in reference to a male subject who was shot while at his residence in Rich Hill Missouri. The victim was being transported to the Bates County Memorial Hospital by a family member. 

The victim and the on scene witnesses identified the shooter as Leon Berry of Rich Hill. The witness information stated that after the shooting, Berry, still armed with a pistol, fled the house on foot. The victim was flown to a trauma hospital in Kansas City with non-life threatening injuries.

A search of the area began immediately by deputies. Leads began to be developed as information was put out to the public. Every deputy of the Sheriff’s Office and Rich Hill Police Department were called out from home to help in the search and to follow up on leads. Empty houses, garages and sheds were searched in an attempt to locate Berry. Known associates, previous vehicles, and previous residences were identified and located. 

Assistance was requested from Vernon County Sheriff’s Office and the Missouri State Highway Patrol when a lead came in that Berry may have been seen in Richard’s Missouri. A team of Bates County Deputies responded to assist Vernon County and MSHP in Richard’s Mo.

At approximately 10:15am incident command had a citizen inform them that they had information of a potential sighting of Berry just west of Rich Hill City limits. A small team of Deputies arrived and observed Berry jump a fence with a handgun in his hand. Deputies confronted him at gun point at which point Berry turned the gun on himself holding it to his head. Berry had reportedly told people that he was going to commit “suicide by cop”, to prevent returning to jail.

A team of Bates County Sheriff’s Crisis Negotiators arrived on scene and began talking with Berry. After approximately 10 minutes, Berry dropped his gun and was taken into custody without incident. Berry was transported to the Bates County Jail pending a finalized investigation.

A search warrant for the residence of the shooting was applied for and received to process the crime scene. Detectives are currently on scene processing that scene for evidence.

Berry currently has an active warrant for unlawful use of a weapon and possession of narcotics with a bond of $30,000.

Once the investigation is complete charges will the forwarded to the Prosecutor’s Office for review. “Today I observed multiple agencies come together with citizens for a single purpose, To Protect and Serve our Community.

I want to say Thank You to Rich Hill Police Department, Vernon County Sheriff’s Office, Missouri Highway Patrol and all the deputies who came from home to help.” Says Sheriff Anderson.

Chances for severe storms Sunday and Monday

Non-severe showers and thunderstorms possible Sunday morning. Strong to severe storms are possible Sunday and Monday. The main threat for Sunday evening/night is large hail and for Monday damaging winds and large hail.

Police searching for shooting suspect in Rich Hill

The Bates County Sheriff is searching Rich Hill area for suspect involved in shooting of one person on east side of rich hill. Suspect fled on foot wearing red and black shirt and blue jeans. Subject is white male, 5’10 190lb. Subject in his 50s

Suspect has brown hair and a goatee. Suspect has been identified as Leon Berry and has recently made threats toward law enforcement in regards to not returning to jail. 

Please remain indoors and if seen call 911. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO APPROACH.

Update on the shooting suspect potential vehicle description. This is the color and style of the vehicle with 20” chrome wheels.

Obituary - Billy Joe Cumpton

Billy Joe Cumpton, 67 of Adrian, Missouri passed away unexpectedly Sunday, March 24, 2024 at his home in Adrian. A Celebration of Life service will be held 5:00 pm Friday, April 26, 2024 at the Adrian Optimist Building in Adrian, Missouri. Services under the direction of Mullinax Funeral Home, Butler (660-679-0009). Memorial contributions may be made to the Adrian Optimist Club or the Altona Baptist Church. Messages of condolence may be left for the family at www.mullinaxfuneralhome.com.

Billy Joe Cumpton, 67 of Adrian, Missouri passed away unexpectedly on March 24, 2024, at his home. Billy was born July 24, 1956, in Butler, Missouri, to Harold Kenneth and Martha June (Vogeler) Cumpton.

Billy spent his school years at Ballard graduating in 1974. He formed lifelong friendships during these years. Billy and his family attended 4-H horse shows and won several trophies. Buddy the horse was instrumental in helping Billy and his family win those awards. Billy worked on the family farm in the Ballard community. His family went hunting for deer, coons, squirrels and enjoyed fishing and hunting for mushrooms.

As a young adult Billy accepted Jesus as his Savior, was baptized in a neighbor’s pond and became a member of Altona Baptist Church in rural Adrian.

After high school graduation Billy made two trips to California. One to visit his brother, Harold who was stationed in Santa Ana, California, in the U.S. Marine Corp and one included a friend. Billy often talked about these trips as one of the highlights of his life. He made a return trip to California after his retirement to visit someone he met in those early days. Over the years, Billy worked at various jobs, including construction, Yellow Freight and as a real estate agent in Texas.

During a deer hunting trip in November, 1982, Billy fell from his tree stand and broke his back. Although that accident confined him to a wheelchair, Billy led a full life. He participated in wheel chair racing, basketball and baseball. One of his favorite experiences was traveling to Japan with the Kansas City Pioneers to play basketball.

While participating in wheelchair sports he met his future boss. Billy was hired to work in the management systems division and had several job titles in the 29+ years he worked for the federal government. He received multiple promotions and retired as IT Regional Director of Region 7 for HUD. Once again Billy formed lasting friendships during these years that remained after he retired.

On June 29, 1996, Billy was united in marriage to Cheryl (Wix) Morrow. Billy and Cheryl went on many trips scuba diving and attending wheelchair sports activities. They built a new home in 2005 on family land in rural Adrian in the Ballard community where they liked to feed and watch the wildlife and fish. Billy and Cheryl spent time gardening, watching grandchildren in sports activities, as well as cheering on the Kansas City Chiefs and playing cards with family and friends. He enjoyed planning and attending reunions for the Cumpton cousins and the Vogeler family. Billy’s family was very important to him, and he also had a countless number of friends all across the nation. He helped to plan the reunions for the Ballard High School Class of 1974 and was looking forward to the 50 year reunion. One friend, who has only known Billy for a few years, made this comment about him: “Believe me when I tell you this man was the definition of if there is a will, there is a way. Billy was a true inspiration to me. There was no quit in him! He never let his disability slow him down. He always found a way to enjoy life to the fullest.”

Billy never let the wheelchair keep him from adventure; he continued to hunt wildlife and mushrooms, fish and go camping with family and friends, target shooting, flying his drone and looking for wildlife with his thermal imaging scope. The week before his passing he went on a spoonbill fishing trip with friends. His latest passion was metal detecting, which was a hobby he’s dabbled in before his accident but had recently picked back up. Billy was so excited when he found his first silver quarter.

Billy joined the Adrian Optimists, served as an officer and received several awards including New Member of the Year and Optimist of the Year. He could often be seen helping with the gun shows and bingo. Billy studied the Masonic degrees and passed to become a Master Mason in the Crescent Hill Lodge No. 368 AF & AM in Adrian, Missouri.

Billy was preceded in death by his grandparents, father Kenneth, aunts, uncles, cousins and father-in-law. Surviving are his wife Cheryl; mother June Cumpton; sister Martha (Jim) Stocklaufer; brothers Harold (Sharon), Roger, Mikel (Patsy) and Dale (Leann); stepmother-in-law Linda Wix; stepdaughters, Kristen (Justin) Feola, Jill (Rod) Berry and stepson Bryan (Sheila) Morrow; grandchildren Tyler (Mikaela), Sydney, Collin, Chelsi and Josi Berry, Isabelle and Jocelyn Feola and great grandson Beckham; nephews and nieces, Steven (Brenda) Doody, Melissa (Anthony) Heider, Holly Ruth, Kyla (Tommy) Hackler, Jessica (Rusty) Campbell, Travis (Dana) Cumpton, Jamie (Zach) Skaggs, Melanie (Kevin) Branson, Ethan, Wyatt (Carly) and Wade (Katrina) Cumpton, numerous great nieces and nephews, cousins, aunt Bonnie Wilson and best friend Robert Hogue.

Update: Three injured in Bates County rollover accident

On Friday March 29th around 5:35 p.m. the Missouri State Highway Patrol in Bates County, Butler Fire Department, Bates County EMS and Bates County Sheriff's Deputies responded to a two vehicle accident in the northbound lanes of I-49 at mile marker 134.4 north of Butler.

The Missouri Highway Patrol says the accident occurred when the northbound 2019 Honda HRV driven by a 26 year old Fernando Royal of Covington, Georgia struck the rear of a northbound 2017 Ford F-150 driven by a 22 year old Owen C. Lawson of Kansas City, Missouri after impact both vehicles traveled off the side of the roadway, and overturned.

Three people in two cars all sustained minor injuries in this accident and two were transported by ambulance to Bates County Memorial Hospital for treatment.

View crash report below:
https://www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov/HP68/AccidentDetailsAction?ACC_RPT_NUM=240154250

Obituary - Buck Edward Smith

Baby Buck Edward Smith was born on February 19, 2024 at 11:53 A.M. at 27 weeks at Golden Valley Memorial Hospital in Clinton Missouri. He passed away on February 21, 2024. There will be a Memorial gathering for everyone that knew about him and loved him and his family on April 2, 2024 at 2:30 p.m. at the Vansant-Mills Funeral Home in Clinton, Missouri.

Precious Baby Buck Edward Smith was the son of Susie Marie Brown and Devan Kyle Smith and brother of Hunter Eugene Bailey, Azlyn Marie Fannon, Teagan Jade Bailey, and Lea Grace Bailey, grandparents Sharon Kay Crenshaw and Otis Howard Crenshaw, Becky Lynn Karo and Robert Karo; Stepdad Keith Allen Bailey; great grandma Gertrude Ann Germaine Rose Vinneman-Smith and many aunts and uncles and cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents Walter Louis Brown, and Patricia Marie Brown, great grandpa Buck Edward Smith which he is named after, and his uncle Albert Eugene Brown.

Please keep us all in your thoughts and prayers as we come to terms with living life without you in it. Arrangements have been entrusted to Vansant-Mills Funeral Home in Clinton, Missouri

Obituary - Trevor John Spurgeon

Trevor John Spurgeon, age 42, of Nevada, MO passed away suddenly Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at Freeman Hospital in Joplin, MO due to complication of pneumonia and diabetes.

Trevor was born March 29, 1981, in El Dorado Springs, MO to Michael Charles and Janis Kay (Coulter) Spurgeon. He was the youngest of the Spurgeon kids (and by far the most spoiled) but was also, in many ways the most selfless. He was the one helping our mother with daily tasks for the last several years and she will miss him dearly. The funny thing about siblings is that you may fight like cats and dogs growing up, but they KNOW you, your relationships and alliances with one another constantly evolve over time and you wouldn’t trade any of them for anyone. In the end, they are your family. Some coming into our family say we have a droll sense of humor; you cannot argue with that, and it borders on inappropriate at times, but that is how we’ve always coped. The regular chats discussing, sometimes sparring, over current events (he missed his calling as a debater!) and receiving his daily Wordle score, will be missed.

Trevor leaves behind his mother, Janis Spurgeon (Jerry Willis), Nevada, MO; a brother, Troy Spurgeon (Krystal Everhart) Lamar, MO and their son, Maverick; sisters, Dayna Richards and her husband Jimmy, St. Louis, MO and their children Kalob and Brook; Theresa McIntosh and her husband Bob Montrose, MO, and their son Nathan; Tammy Frost and her husband Winter, Frisco, TX and their children Ethan and Bryn. Additional survivors include his uncle, Larry Coulter of Rockville, MO and his children Lonnie & Chad; his aunt, Susan Knipp and her husband Dave, Kansas, City, MO and their children Ryan & Jennifer; as well as an extended family. He was preceded in death by his father and grandparents.

We will be Celebrating all the Wonderful Memories he created from 5-7:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 4, 2024, at the Community Center, 200 N. Ash, Nevada, MO. Light finger foods are welcomed.

Severe chances return Sunday and Monday

Breezy conditions with SW wind gusts 30-40 MPH expected today. Non-severe thunderstorms possible (20%-30%) this evening. Scattered thunderstorms return Sunday through Tuesday. Strong to severe storms are possible Sunday and Monday.