Man charged with first-degree murder in Blue Springs double homicide

BLUE SPRING, Mo. (KCTV) - A Raymore man is charged with first-degree murder for a double homicide at a Blue Springs park.

Jackson County prosecutors charged 20-year-old Marquis Earl Lee Savannah for the shooting deaths of 19-year-old LaDronal Hamilton Jr. and 20-year-old Karmello Matlock. The two men died after they were shot at Wilbur Young Park on April 13. Savannah is also charged with armed criminal action in connection with the shooting.

Investigators released Savannah’s picture in hopes that the public would help locate him. Wednesday night, they said he was in custody. Savannah is known to go by the alias, “Baby Earl” or “Earl.” He is 5′9″ tall and weighs 175 pounds.

According to court documents, officers found one of two victims suffering critical injures in a parking lot near the park’s volleyball courts. The victim suffered a gunshot to his chest and right leg.

Bystanders pointed officers to a second victim in the grass near the basketball court, just south of the volleyball courts. The court documents show he suffered gunshot injuries to his chest, side, and buttocks.

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Emergency crews transported the two victims to hospitals where they later died from their injuries.

Another Blue Springs officer who responded to the shooting located a 17-year-old at a home near the park. The teenager suffered a gunshot injury to his calf. Emergency crews transported the teenager to the hospital, but the teen has since been released. Police confirmed the 17-year-old is considered a suspect in the incident.

Court documents show witnesses told investigators that an argument escalated to a fist fight and then a shooting. They also said that at least one of the shooters got into a car with a female before they drove away. Police reviewed surveillance video from cameras inside the park. Court documents show the video supports witnesses accounts.

The probable cause statement shows officers recovered multiple guns, bullet fragments, and at least 28 shell casings from the shooting scene at the park.

Court records reference video showing Savannah walking up to one of the victims while he was on the ground. The document shows Savannah fired at least eight shots at the victim. The 17-year-old is also shown on video shooting one of the victims before running away.

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Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the Blue Springs Police Department or the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS.

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