Inset: Antonio Serrano (Clay County Sheriff’s Office). Background: The CVS in North Kansas City, Mo., where Antonio Serrano shot and killed a store employee (Google Maps).
A man from Missouri is accused of visiting a CVS store in North Kansas City, where his ex-partner works, and fatally shooting a store employee she lived with, according to police reports. The suspect, Antonio Serrano, allegedly admitted to authorities that he “could have harmed more individuals,” including responding officers, but chose not to.
Court documents reveal that 29-year-old Serrano is facing charges of first-degree murder for the incident that occurred on a Thursday afternoon. The victim, 42-year-old Rusty Donovan, a CVS employee, was killed in the attack, as reported by local ABC affiliate KMBC.
According to police, Serrano shot Donovan nearly a dozen times while he was stationed behind the CVS counter around 3 p.m. Despite his former lover being employed at the store, she was not present at the time of the incident.
Surveillance footage reportedly shows Serrano entering the store and aiming his firearm at a female employee before targeting Donovan. Serrano is alleged to have continued firing even after Donovan fell to the ground.
Authorities state that Serrano instructed another employee to dial 911, expressing a desire to surrender. Upon the arrival of officers, he purportedly claimed he “could have shot the police if he wanted” and asserted he “could have harmed more people” but opted not to. Despite contemplating escape, he ultimately decided against it.
Serrano reportedly expressed remorse, stating he was sorry for the crime and believed he “probably deserves life in prison” for his actions. He also conveyed uncertainty about his motivations for the shooting.
According to police, Serrano went to the CVS a week before the shooting and confronted another employee, which led to cops being called. It’s unclear if the worker was his former lover.
Police arrested Serrano multiple times in the past and was convicted of resisting arrest or a stop in 2019, KMBC reports.
“I commend the North Kansas City Police Department for a rapid and ongoing investigation that allowed us to file charges on this horrific crime,” said Clay County Prosecutor Zach Thompson in a statement last week. “Our prayers are for all those affected by this shocking and brutal act of violence.”
CVS also released a statement after the shooting, telling local NBC affiliate KSHB, “Counseling and support services are being offered to all store colleagues to help them cope with this senseless tragedy.”
