KANSAS CITY —A suspect has been charged with 1st degree murder and armed criminal action in the death of North Kansas City Police Officer Daniel Vasquez. He is being held on a $2 million bond, according to a statement from the Clay County Sheriff's office.
Joshua T. Rocha, 24, is being held on a $2 million bond, according to Clay County Missouri Sheriff.
Just after 10:40a.m., Officer Daniel Vasquez, 32, stopped a Ford Taurus for an expired temporary license plate near 21 Street North and Clay Street, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
The driver, later identified as Rocha, exited the vehicle and began firing on the officer causing serious injury, according to the patrol.
EMS transported Vasquez to North Kansas City Hospital and he was later transferred to KU Medical Center where he died.
After the patrol issued a Blue Alert, for when an officer is seriously injured or killed, a search for the suspect's gray Ford Taurus lasted a couple of hours.
Rocha eventually turned himself in, according to the sheriff's department. Kansas City Police is now in charge of the investigation.