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Man charged with murder in 2019 Midtown shooting

Linwood Homicide.jpeg
Posted at 6:48 PM, Jan 21, 2020
and last updated 2020-01-21 19:48:49-05

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Jackson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday that a Kansas City man has been charged with murder in a deadly November shooting in Midtown.

Malcolm Weston, 25, faces second-degree murder, unlawful use of a weapon, two counts of armed criminal action and first-degree property damage charges in connection with Ricardo Ortiz’s death on the morning of Nov. 13 near Linwood Boulevard and Charlotte Street.

Ortiz, 51, was walking his dog when he confronted a man who was breaking into his vehicle, his wife told police at the time of the shooting.

Weston was arrested shortly after the shooting and charged with robbery, armed criminal action, tampering, resisting arrest and unlawful possession of a firearm.

He also was under investigation in two different cases.

Eight days after Ortiz’s death, Weston allegedly stole a 1999 White Ford F350 at gunpoint from the parking lot at a Midtown KC Lowe’s.

He led law enforcement on a high-speed chase, blowing through red lights and driving into oncoming traffic on several occasions.

After a brief foot chase, police found and arrested Weston. An AK-style pistol was found in the area where Weston fled on foot and a Glock 23 handgun was found in the driver’s seat of the stolen truck.

Weston, who had been convicted of a prior felony for tampering with a motor vehicle and resisting in Wyandotte County, was not legally allowed to possess a firearm, according to court records.

Additionally, the Glock 23 had been stolen from Overland Park.

Weston was charged with robbery, armed criminal action, tampering with a motor vehicle and resisting in that incident.

Now, he is being held on a $250,000 bond for the alleged homicide of Ortiz.