Nov. 10, 2020

A Blue Springs man, 20, has been charged in the fatal shooting Monday evening inside a Blue Springs McDonald’s restaurant, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced today.

Joseph Mayes
Photo courtesy KCTV 5

Joseph Mayes, dob: 8/2/2000, faces Involuntary Manslaughter and Armed Criminal Action charges.*

According to court records filed today, Mayes and the victim, Harry E. Bowers, were friends. They often played a game where they pointed unloaded guns at each other and pulled the trigger. On Monday night, they were at the McDonalds in Blue Springs in the bathroom, when the defendant pulled the trigger and the gun went off, mortally wounding the victim.  The defendant fled and later turned himself in.  Defendant admitted under Miranda to shooting the victim and the “game” they played.  Defendant made statements to other witnesses that he had shot the victim.

Prosecutors requested a $25,000 bond.

*Charges are only accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until the defendant is either found guilty or has pleaded.

Charging Document(s)

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