Police arrested one suspect in a Kansas City area bar mass shooting and were hunting for a second gunman early on Oct. 7, in an attack that killed four people and wounded five, police said.
No motive was given for the early Sunday shooting, but one of the two men wanted was kicked out of the Tequilla KC Bar, a private club, late on Saturday, police said.
It took four people to throw the man out after he tossed a cup at a bartender who had refused to serve him, media including the Kansas City Star reported. Then the man started another fight just outside the bar before midnight.
The disgruntled man returned just before 1:30 a.m. Sunday with an accomplice, both armed with pistols, and the two started shooting, witnesses told the newspaper.
Police arrived to a scene of chaos after they were alerted to the incident, as the few dozen people who had been in the bar were running out. The suspects had fled and there was blood on the street, police spokesman Thomas Tomasic said.
Early on Monday, police posted online that a suspect, Javier Alatorre, 23, had been taken into custody, but they released no other details about the arrest other than that police were assisted by other agencies including the FBI.
Police also announced that a second suspect, Hugo Villanueva-Morales, 29, was wanted and they were each charged with four counts of first-degree murder.
Alatorre was being held on $1 million bond, police said.
Villanueva-Morales was considered “armed and dangerous”, police said on social media.
Four people were killed and five wounded, police said, but the victims were not identified. Police said the wounded were in stable condition.
“I don’t know what to make of it. A sad day for everybody who lost their lives and their families,” Bartender Jose Valdez said, choking up. “How can you go into a place full of people and just start shooting?”
Resident Juan Ramirez told the Kansas City Star his 29-year-old nephew was among those killed. He said his nephew left behind a 6-year-old son and a 4-year-old daughter.
“I don’t wish this upon anybody,” Ramirez said.
Tequila KC Bar Was Known as a Communal Spot
Regulars of Tequila KC bar described it Sunday as a gathering spot where everyone knows each other.
It was always a safe and welcoming place to adults from their 20s to their 60s, Toni Maciel said. People would come after work for a drink, and guests generally know each other and their families.
“It’s unfortunate it happened here, because this is the place to go,” she said. “Now when we hang out, it’s going to be kind of different, not the same vibe.”
By Rich McKay
The CNN Wire and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
