KANSAS CITY —Based on results of the medical exam, and preliminary report on the cause of death, the two children killed January 3 at a home in Kansas City are the victims of the homicide and their father, is the victim of the suicide and the suspect of the murders, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.
The three dead have identified the victims as 39-year-old Zachary D. Hatcher; 7-year-old Charlotte Hatcher and 9-year-old Jeffery Hatcher, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.
Just before 10p.m. January 3, police responded to the 1000 block of NW 91st Terrace in Kansas City on a reported check the welfare call for service.
When officers arrived they began checking the exterior of the residence. They smelled smoke and could see smoke inside the home. Officers made entry into the home but had to quickly back out due to a fire inside.
The Kansas City Fire Department simultaneously responded and were able to extinguish the fire. Upon reentering the home, police found a girl, a boy and a man with an apparent gunshot wound. Emergency medical personnel declared the girl and the man deceased at the scene.
EMS transported the boy to a local hospital where he died a short time later, according DiMartino.
This case is now being investigated as a Murder – Suicide