Hello. My name is Daniel White. Clay County prosecuting attorney.
We're here today to announce the prosecutor's office has charged Joshua
t rocha.
Hispanic Male 9 20 of 97
in the shooting death
of Daniel Vazquez. North Kansas City police officer.
Specifically
state alleges
That in violation of section 5 65.020
that Joshua Rocha committed to class *** felony
of murder in the first degree
In that on or about 19 July 2022 in the county of play. In the state of
Missouri.
The defendant after deliberation knowingly caused the death of Daniel
Vasquez was by shooting him.
That is Count one.
The range of punishment in *** class E felony of murder in the first degree
shall be either death or imprisonment for life without the eligibility for
probation or parole or release except by the act of *** governor Or accept if
that person has not reached their 16th birthday
count two
Alleges The Offense of Section 5 71.015. The felony of armed criminal action
In that on or about July 19, 2022 in the County of Clay, the state of
Missouri,
the defendant committed the felony of murder in the first degree as alleged
in count one of this charge and did so using
*** deadly weapon.
The range of punishment on Count two for Armed Criminal Action
Is five years up to 15 years in the Department of Corrections.
Now
it's important to stress
that the charge of crime is not evidence of *** crime and defendant is
proved innocent is presumed innocent until he is found guilty or pleads
guilty in *** court of law
and I would like to thank law enforcement in our city and the
surrounding communities for doing an excellent and outstanding job in an
investigation that is still ongoing. But at this point we're very
comfortable with the evidence we had in filing these charges.
There will be further evidence. There will be other decisions that have to be
made in regards to this case.
So this is far from over. This is just the beginning.
Mr Rocca will be arraigned tomorrow in Division seven, Clay County Courthouse
in Liberty
at 1 30.
His bond is currently set at $2 million.
Alright, so at this point I'm gonna ask Chief Freeman step up. You may have
some things that he wants to say. There will be some other people and then
we'll we'll try to take some questions which will be happy to do very limited
about what we can talk about because this is an ongoing investigation and
this case is still pending.
Thank you Mr White Chief Kevin Freeman, North Kansas City Police Department
first and foremost, I just want to thank thank everybody. Thank our law
enforcement partners. Thank the prosecutor's office for bringing this
charge so quickly in *** very senseless tragedy. Our community has been, has
had an outpouring of support for our, for our law enforcement family for
officer Vasquez's family and all of our extended family in law enforcement. We
really appreciate all of that. Um, we couldn't, we couldn't get through this
without it. Um, North Kansas city is *** great place to, to police. It's ***
great place to live and we love our community and the support that they've
given us during this, this very very very hard time. Um, yeah, we will, we
are still working through some of the arrangements with the family. Some of
that announcement was ongoing families hoping to meet with the funeral
director this afternoon. So we should have some more details on funeral
arrangements at that time.
Aside from that, I think the mayor would also like to say *** few words
and again to to express express our gratitude um, to, to our community. So
thank you.
Thank you North Kansas City Police. Thank you. North City Mayor brian wong
1st. I want to thank the K. c. p. d. As well as the Clay County Sheriff's
Department for all their work in this investigation so far. I also want to
extend my sincere appreciation for every agency around the metro that has
come and helped over the last day.
I also want to thank the Clay County prosecutor's office for their work
ahead. Unfortunately, there's no successful ending to the tragic death
of being *** Vasquez. Today's announcement though, is the first step
in achieving any adjustments, any justice for Daniel's death. Again, the
family, his colleagues and the community continue to grieve and I ask
that you keep Daniel's families in your thoughts. Anyone wishing to help the
family can donate to the F. O. P. S. Fund they've set up for the family. You
can find *** link for that on any of the city's social media channels. I
would additionally ask that you give the family the space they need to
grieve the loss of Daniel. Thank you.
Are there any questions I wanted to ask you about the incident yesterday you
mentioned that traffic stops are one of the most dangerous things that an
officer does. I don't know. Obviously this is unprecedented in your community
but some departments for that reason they have two people riding together in
*** police car composed of one. Um Is this standard operating procedure in
North Kansas city to have one officer out. And are you going to review that
as *** possible change? Yes it is. Is our standard operating procedure in
North Kansas city. North Canada is very fortunate to have *** rather large
police presence for the size of city that we are and generally it would have
prevented it in this case. But generally our officers are right around
the corner from from their brothers and sisters anytime in
anytime anything happens, we're always gonna look at policy policy and
procedure reviews to see if we can be better and so I'm sure that will happen
in the future. Chief is cheap as the suspect road job. She decided here in
North Kansas city. I'm not I'm not privy to that information.
I don't have that information. I spent most of my day at the hospital with the
family. Um and then if they're home and the scene was handled by our partners
can't see Missouri Police department so they might be able to answer those
questions that you might have for them. Do you know where the weapon came from
with the suspect? How did you get it? Was stolen wasn't purchased. And could
you talk broadly about how your officers perceive traffic stops in
terms of weapons by the driver or passenger? You know they're pretty
loose laws in Missouri seems like they
you would have *** healthy skepticism. Okay. Every every car stop you. You
take that risk when you walk up to the driver's window. Every officer knows
that when they conduct *** traffic stop and they have that in their mind.
Your first question, I'm sorry. Do you know how?
Okay again, Missouri law is pretty liberal about allowing people to carry
weapons. You know some police officer concerned about that precisely.
You think your members share that concern or is there? You need it
carrying loaded with?
I'm not interested in answer that question today sir. Thank you. I
appreciate that
nobody.
What about? Did you obtain *** weapon was recovered? Can you tell me anything
about that? I don't know what. Yes. Watch this.
Yeah.
Deputy Chief mike would cancel with the police department. I'm in charge of the
investigation bureau. *** weapon was recovered yesterday as *** result of
the search one. Can you tell us what kind of weapon? Not at this time. Okay.
Do you believe that the weapon that was used to shoot Officer Vasquez? We're
conducting investigations at the lab determined that at this point our
understanding is he turned himself into K. C. P. D. Did mr Vasquez make any
kind of confession or statement? You want police about this? It's at this
time. Can you tell us where you decide that in he had an address in Kansas
city had an address in Kansas city Missouri. Do you know if the suspect an
officer Vasquez had any running prior to this event? Not that I'm aware. Does
he have any criminal history that you're aware of? No. Not that I'm aware
of. What about the vehicle because obviously what we understand what
precipitated this whole thing was that he had expired tag that may have been
forged to begin with? Which might suggest maybe he stole the car. Do you
know whether this was his vehicle or or you know anything of that nature? Could
there be more charges? Perhaps you know with regard to that? There can be more
charges but the vehicle is it was his he just never went and got registration?
I don't know that. I just know it had *** temporary tag. Do you have any idea
why willing to surrender?
I do not you know why he decided that this was *** step to take. Did he give
you any indication why
he did not?
We saw that the suspect there was *** traffic stop in March here in North
Kansas city. Did you all experience *** problems with him back in March? That
wasn't my department. I don't know.
Can you tell us whether you plan to seek the death penalty? You mentioned
that the top penalty in this case on the first charge that your plan at this
point? Well, our plan at this point is that the investigation gets completed
fully.
Alright. What we what I have generally done in the past case like this
is I want the investigation and *** full and complete case file on my desk.
I will then reach out to the family members of the victims and we'll have
those discussions. I will then reach out to members of the North Kansas City
Police Department and have those discussions about what they think the
proper punishment will be. And after all three of those things are done.
I'll meet with my staff
and then accept recommendations from them and then I'll make that decision.
The Missouri Supreme Court previously has ruled that any suspect should be
able to post bond given whatever their income is. You mentioned. It's *** $2
million dollar bond. You see any possibility that the suspect could make
bond in the outer. I don't know what his assets are. But I can tell you that
the Missouri Supreme Court also says that Bond is associated with making
making sure that *** person appears in court or if they are considered ***
danger to the community and shooting *** police officer in my opinion is ***
clear indication that you're *** danger to the community. So I think the bonds
appropriate if he can make that bond, then there are certain conditions that
the judges put in Regards to that. But as of right now, as of right now that
judge believes that that bond is an appropriate
will be arraigned tomorrow the 21st at 1:30 in division
with the suspect's family. They shed any light on this. No. Generally
suspects families uh do not reach out to the prosecuting.
Could you spell that last name for us just to make sure we have it correct.
R. O. C. H. ***. And his first name again Joshua.
Alright. Also have copies of the charging document that I can give to
members of the media and included on the back side of that is the probable
cause statement. All right. Because we're limited about what we can talk
about unless it's in the probable cause. So if it's in the probable cause, that
is *** public document and you can do with it what you choose. And but I am
allowed to give that document to you because it's *** public.
Thank you. Thank you.
Yeah