Manhunt for Kansas City shooting suspect enters seventh day
A weeklong search for 22-year-old Oscar Sanchez-Munoz in the Kansas City, Missouri, area appears to have reached a critical turn. Sanchez-Munoz had been sought in connection with a shooting spree that left one person dead and four others wounded, while relatives said he had shown signs of schizophrenia and the FBI offered a $25,000 reward for tips.
Police told Fox News on Wednesday that human remains believed to be Sanchez-Munoz were found by family members in the basement of a fire-damaged home. He had been identified as the suspect in a deadly series of highway shootings near Kansas City venues connected to the World Cup.
According to officials, the family called police around 2 p.m. local time after locating decomposing remains concealed beneath piles of debris.
Investigators said relatives had been to the home multiple times since it burned during an overnight police standoff, but the body was not found until debris was moved and a strong odor was detected.
Oscar Sanchez-Munoz had been sought in connection with at least six shootings across multiple states. (FBI)
The Independence, Missouri, property had previously been searched several times by investigators, federal agencies and K-9 teams, but those efforts did not locate the remains.
Authorities said the search was made more difficult because part of the basement had collapsed, the area was flooded with water, and the space was packed with extensive “clutter.”
The discovery is expected to bring an end to the broad, multi-agency manhunt launched after Sanchez-Munoz allegedly opened fire on vehicles along Interstate 70, only a few miles from Arrowhead Stadium, where FIFA World Cup matches were taking place.
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The FBI released a wanted poster seeking the public’s assistance in finding suspect Oscar Sanchez-Munoz. (FBI)
The spree of half dozen shootings left one person dead and several others seriously injured, including an Uber driver who was shot while transporting soccer fans.
During the search for Sanchez-Munoz, the FBI offered a $25,000 reward for information leading to his capture, warning the public that he was “armed and dangerous.”
Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche had publicly speculated that the suspect might be dead inside the Missouri home, though police were unable to confirm it at the time.
FBI officials said suspect Oscar Sanchez-Munoz had visible acne scars and is 5 feet 8 inches tall. (FBI)
Officials said investigators are currently operating under the assumption that the deceased person is Sanchez-Munoz, noting clothing on the body matched what the shooter wore during last week’s attacks.
A medical examiner will confirm the identity and determine the cause of death.
Officials assured the public there is no threat to the community, and added that all surviving victims are expected to recover.
