Grandmother, Mother, and Daughter — Along with Their Dog — Killed After Dispute with Victim's Ex: Police

A Missouri man is accused of killing his ex-girlfriend, her mother and the ex-girlfriend’s daughter after a dispute.

Armando Navarro Jr., 50, is facing first-degree murder, armed criminal action and assault charges in connection with the deaths of 73-year-old Sherri Duncan, 49-year-old Jodie Hopcus and 24-year-old Hailey Hopcus. Navarro is the ex-boyfriend of Jodie Hopcus, Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd said, per KSHB. 

He is also charged with one count of animal abuse.

Police were called to the 4100 block of NW 65th Street in Kansas City around 12:30 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 2, after a fourth victim escaped the home and knocked on the door of a neighbor who then called 911.

Officers arrived and found the three women fatally shot.

Officers also found a dog with a fatal gunshot wound.  

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The surviving victim told police that Navarro lived at the home and there had been a dispute about him getting kicked out prior to the shooting, according to a police probable cause affidavit.  

“She stated Navarro was going back and forth from his room to the kitchen, during which time they all believed he was gathering his belongings,” states the affidavit. “At some point Navarro came out armed with a small handgun and started shooting at them.”

At one point, Navarro “ran out of bullets in the small gun” and “returned with a larger firearm,” according to the affidavit.

The victim was able to run out of the house and “hid at a nearby address, as she did she heard Navarro call out her name.”

Police said Navarro left the scene in a white 2020 Ford Expedition that was owned by one of the victims.

He was taken into custody in Abilene, Kan.

According to the affidavit, a man called 911 and asked police to check on the victims, stating that he’d spoken to Navarro who allegedly told him he’d “killed them all.”

In a GoFundMe post, a friend of Jodie’s described her as a “beautiful person. She was caring, funny, and always positive.”

Jodie, she wrote, was “willing to help anyone and was beloved by everyone who had the pleasure of meeting her. Jodie was laid back and kind, her passing is unimaginable.”

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.