Police identify primary suspect in Aug. 6 shooting death at Kansas Expressway party

Springfield police have identified a primary suspect in the Aug. 6 shooting death of Larry McCoo.

Investigators believe Michael E. Carter shot and killed McCoo − witnesses said multiple guns were drawn during a chaotic 3 a.m. altercation − outside a Kansas Expressway business that hosted an after-hours party.

Prosecutors have not filed murder or manslaughter charges against Carter, but he was brought into custody and charged with tampering with a vehicle after allegedly having a stolen motorcycle at the scene of the shooting.

Witnesses in the police report said Carter and Yuwel Edwards both fired their weapons following an argument with McCoo, who was also reportedly armed. Yuwel was arrested four days after the shooting and charged with unlawful use of a firearm and armed criminal action.

"During a verbal argument, Michael Carter shot (McCoo) multiple times resulting in (McCoo's) death," according to an investigator's probable cause statement.

Carter, who turned himself in on Aug. 10 but declined to speak to investigators about the shooting incident, has since posted bond for the vehicle tampering offense. Edwards is still behind bars.

Witnesses said that Carter was working the door of the afterparty at 318 N. Kansas Expressway and checking for weapons. The post-midnight event had a $5 cover charge, the police report said, before an eventual altercation.

According to a police report, McCoo was arguing with Carter and Edwards before a witness said Edwards began reaching for a gun. McCoo then reached for his gun, one witness said, before Carter shot McCoo. Edwards was also reportedly shooting his gun.

McCoo, 35, was located by medics in the threshold of the doorway with multiple gunshot wounds. He was married and had 10 children.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Springfield police identify primary suspect in Aug. 6 shooting death