A late-night dispute in rural Cass County ended in a fatal shooting on Sunday, February 22, 2015. Thirty-year-old William R. Whelan Jr., a Harrisonville resident, was found dead at a home in the 24000 block of East 275th Street after witnesses said a physical altercation escalated. According to those at the scene, Whelan reportedly assaulted 65-year-old Peter T. Barbookles and at least one other person before Barbookles produced a firearm and shot Whelan. Deputies arrived around 12:30 a.m. and discovered Whelan’s body.

Barbookles was treated at a local hospital for injuries from the fight, then taken into custody for questioning and later released after giving a statement. The Cass County prosecutor’s office was set to review the case for possible charges, and an autopsy was scheduled with the Jackson County Medical Examiner’s Office to determine cause of death. What did anyone in the area see or hear that night that could clarify how the confrontation began and unfolded?