Altercation Leads To Murder/Suicide Of Brothers

"MISSION, KS — A Merriam man fatally shot his brother outside a Mission office building Thursday morning and then killed himself several hours later as police moved in on him in south Kansas City.

"Mission police said Robert J. Pruitt, 58, shot Todd A. Pruitt, 51, of Shawnee, in front of witnesses about 7:15 a.m.

"The shooter sped away in a stolen rental car from the parking lot in the 5700 block of Broadmoor Street, just north of Johnson Drive. About 11 a.m., police received a tip that Robert Pruitt was near 104th Street and Blue River Road in Kansas City. Tactical officers began searching parkland and woods in the area.

"When they spotted Pruitt near a creek just before noon, he turned a gun on himself and fired.

"Witnesses told police that the men had an altercation in the parking lot before Robert Pruitt shot his brother several times, including at least once in the head. The younger Pruitt was taken to a hospital, where he died."

From the Kansas City Star...