(KAIR)--An Atchison man, blamed for the shooting death of a five-year-old girl in Leavenworth Friday night, has been arrested in connection with her death.
During a press conference held Monday evening in Leavenworth, it was revealed that 30-year-old Marcus McGowan, who remains hospitalized after being shot by police, is facing charges of first degree felony murder, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated endangering a child, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, felony fleeing and eluding and criminal possession of a firearm.
Announcement of the pending charges was made by Leavenworth Police Chief Patrick Kitchens. “I think there's been some concern by the public that Mr. McGowan may have been released. That is not true. Mr. McGowan remains hospitalized in a Kansas City area hospital under heavy guard by members of the Leavenworth Police Department,” Kitchens stated. “This case will be presented to the Leavenworth County Attorney's Office, Todd Thompson, for review in the near future, although there has been no specific time-line or time-table set for that.”
The KBI is assisting with the investigation, which is ongoing.
McGowan is accused of abducting the child during a domestic dispute in Atchison and then leading authorities on a pursuit from Atchison, into Platte County, Missouri, and finally into Leavenworth, where his vehicle was stopped by construction on Metropolitan Avenue. It was there he is accused of engaging police with gunfire, and then turning his weapon on 5-year-old Cadence Harris. Her mother, Christy Harris, was present at the press conference. “She loved him and he claimed that he loved her just as much. I had fear for own life but never for my daughter's.” Christy Harris is identified as McGowan's girlfriend.
Two Facebook pages are now in place memorializing the young girl.
Both pages link to a GoFundMe online account being used to provide financial assistance to the family of Cadence.
According to the Facebook pages, money raised will be used to help pay for burial expenses and any other final arrangements.
Links to the Facebook pages: https://www.facebook.com/angels4cadence and https://www.facebook.com/Cadencejustineharris
© Many Signals Communications
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