INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (TCD) — A man allegedly fatally shot his wife’s sons in their home last week, claiming he did so in self-defense.
According to the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office, Terrill Anderson faces charges of second-degree murder, armed criminal action, voluntary manslaughter, and armed criminal action.
On Sunday, Oct. 29, at approximately 8:25 p.m., officers responded to a home after a caller reported that her husband had “shot her two sons,” Independence Police said in the probable cause statement. Officers found the two victims, identified by WDAF-TV as Adonis Knight and Mario Batrez, dead on the kitchen floor with a total of eight shell casings nearby.
Police said Anderson’s three biological children, all under 18 years old, were in the home at the time and were escorted out.
According to the probable cause statement, investigators recovered video surveillance from the home that showed an assault in the sub-basement, as well as an assault near the door to the garage of the home.
In the video footage, police said Anderson was armed with a handgun in the living room and approached the stairs near the first victim, who was wielding a knife. An unidentified person shielded the victim, according to police. Then, Anderson allegedly fired two warning shots into the kitchen ceiling while the second victim was on his cellphone.
According to police, the first victim tried to hit Anderson multiple times, but the suspect allegedly fired a shot at him, and the first victim fell to the ground. Afterward, Anderson allegedly shot the second victim, causing him to fall to the ground, and he shot him two more times.
Police said Anderson walked back to the first victim and shot him again before stomping on him and shooting at his head.
In the probable cause statement, police noted that neither victim appeared to be a threat after being shot.
According to police, Anderson told detectives that the victims assaulted him in the sub-basement, and he shot his two stepsons in self-defense. Anderson reportedly told police that the first victim was armed with a knife, and he believed the second victim had a gun.
Anderson remains held in the Jackson County Detention Center.
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