Independence, Mo. – A local man faces multiple charges including second-degree murder following the death of a 19-year-old found shot in a car parked near Interstate 435 last weekend. Authorities identified the victim as Preston Bell and have charged Steven B. Rock in connection with his death.
Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office disclosed on Friday that surveillance footage depicts a chilling scenario where Bell’s vehicle was encircled by three individuals moments before the fatal incident. The video captures Rock aggressively opening the driver’s side door and extracting Bell, who appeared unresponsive.
Rock is then seen placing Bell in the backseat, taking the driver’s seat, and driving off from the scene. The Kansas City, Missouri Police responded to reports of a stationary vehicle on I-435 and Truman Road on Sunday afternoon, discovering Bell deceased with a gunshot wound.
According to court records, police have indicated that all individuals linked to the encounter will face charges. In an intercepted phone call from jail, Rock reportedly stated, “the others don’t deserve that. It’s me,” suggesting a potential acceptance of responsibility for the shooting.
Prosecutors have set Rock’s bond at $250,000, reflecting the multiple charges against him, including second-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action, and one count of abandonment of a corpse. Additionally, charges related to the abandonment of a corpse have been filed against a second suspect involved in the case, further complicating the investigation.
Local authorities are continuing their investigation into the incident as they work to piece together the circumstances leading up to Bell’s death. The community remains in shock as more details surface about the tragic event that transpired quietly in broad daylight, leaving a family to mourn the senseless loss of a young life.