INDEPENDENCE, Mo. - A Sugar Creek man was charged with murder Sunday in the shooting death of an Independence man.
Patrick L. Barkwell, 51, is charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action for the death of Christopher King, 22, of Independence, on Aug. 17.
Court documents say Barkwell went to King's home to retrieve a friend's vehicle.
King's mother told police that King had borrowed the vehicle, but had not returned it as requested.
According to court documents, Barkwell went to King's home armed with a .22 caliber revolver. When King approached Barkwell's vehicle, Barkwell reportedly fired a single round at King's chest.
After the shooting, Barkwell tossed the gun off of the Missouri River Bridge.
Police were lead to Barkwell after speaking to the owner of the vehicle King had borrowed.
When police showed up at Barkwell's door, he said the shooting was "the biggest mistake I ever made... I didn't mean to kill him," according to court documents.
Barkwell is being held in the Jackson County Jail. Prosecutors have requested a $150,000 cash bond.
