Annamarie Becchina, 34, was fatally shot on the night of September 20, 2021, in the 300 block of Lawn Avenue in Kansas City, Missouri. Police found Becchina and a male victim with gunshot wounds; Becchina was pronounced dead at the scene and the man was taken to hospital in critical condition.

Witnesses said 56-year-old Paul E. Johnson, a convicted felon who was at the location, had been arguing with the male victim and retrieved a shotgun from a garage. During the altercation Johnson was reportedly poking the other man with the firearm when it discharged, sending a single blast that struck both the man and Annamarie Becchina. Johnson was taken into custody at the scene; officers said he cooperated, indicated where the shotgun was, and was attempting life-saving measures on Becchina when they arrived. He was charged by the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office with second-degree murder, second-degree assault, two counts of armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon, and unlawful possession of a firearm, with prosecutors requesting $250,000 cash bond.

What information might help clarify how the shotgun discharged and who was handling it just before the blast?