Charges dropped against suspect in deadly Independence Center shooting

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office has dropped charges against MarkAnthony Greer for his alleged role in a November 2023 shooting at the Independence Center.

That shooting took the life of 19-year-old Karla Brown , who was 20 weeks pregnant at the time.

The baby didn’t survive – two others were also struck in this shooting .

Greer was originally charged with five felony counts in November for his suspected role in the shooting, but in a superseding indictment filed on February 16, prosecutors added second-degree felony murder.

All six felony charges have been dropped, per the prosecutor’s office.

A spokesperson told FOX4 in a phone call that considering depositions that are now completed, and new evidence that’s come to light, the prosecutor’s office no longer believed it could meet its burden of proof, which is beyond a reasonable doubt.

A motion was filed on July 2, and Greer was released one day later on July 3.

One other person is charged in this case with one count of tampering with evidence.

In a statement to FOX4, Greer’s attorney laid out the work him and his team put in to get these charges dropped. He maintains that not only was his client not the one who fired the gun, but his client never had a gun.

That statement reads: “My firm represented Mr. MarkAnthoney Greer on the charges of murder, assault and armed criminal action. From the beginning we believed in his innocence. My firm conducted our own independent investigation of the facts surrounding the shooting, including interviewing witnesses at the Independence Mall, who were present at the time of the shooting. Mr. Greer sat in the Jackson County jail for 8 months while we worked hard to establish his innocence. After the return of critical forensic evidence, my firm was able to establish to the State of Missouri that Mr. Greer was in fact innocent. He was subsequently released from custody and all charges were dismissed.”

“This has been a life-altering experience for Mr. Greer and his family. He is a very young father (young daughter). He was facing the possibility of spending the remainder of his life behind bars. Securing his freedom has allowed him to return home and be a positive influence in his daughter’s life and the lives of the remainder of his family.”

“It is tragic any time a life is lost to gun violence, but it is also tragic when an innocent person is held in jail for a crime he did not commit.”

“Very grateful that my firm was able to secure his release from jail and the dismissal of charges against him.”

“The toll on his life has been tremendous. To think he would grow old in jail and never be able to raise his daughter or hug his mother was overwhelming. Now he gets a fresh start on life with a greater appreciation of family and freedom.”

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