KANSAS CITY, MO – A 59-year-old Kansas City man is facing federal charges after a brazen attack on a gas station clerk and the discovery of a substantial quantity of crack cocaine and a handgun. Reginald Lucas allegedly fired a shot at the clerk before fleeing, leading to a police chase and his eventual arrest.
According to court documents, the incident unfolded around 5:15 a.m. on December 28, 2012, at a gas station near Prospect Avenue and East 35th Street. Lucas reportedly entered the store, brandished a handgun, and threatened the clerk. He then fired a shot in the clerk’s direction – thankfully missing – before making a hasty escape in a red Nissan Altima. A bullet hole was found in the ceiling above where the clerk had been standing, and a 9mm shell casing was recovered at the scene.
Kansas City police quickly identified the vehicle and located it an hour later. Lucas fled on foot when officers approached, ditching a gray bag in the process. Inside the bag, investigators found a loaded CANIK Century Arms 9mm semi-automatic pistol, 92.81 grams of marijuana, and 22 loose prescription pills. A search of Lucas’s person revealed a total of 20.95 grams of crack cocaine, divided into 58 individually wrapped baggies, plus an additional 2.85 grams in a separate baggie, and another 4.98 grams in his pants pocket.
The charges against Lucas are significant. He’s been charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, one count of possessing crack cocaine with the intent to distribute, and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. Lucas’s criminal history further complicates matters, as he has prior convictions for murder with a deadly weapon and robbery, making firearm possession illegal under federal law.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Foley is prosecuting the case, which was jointly investigated by the Kansas City Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The investigation is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by fostering collaboration between law enforcement and communities.
It’s crucial to remember that these are merely allegations at this stage. Lucas is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a federal court of law. The evidence will be presented to a jury, who will ultimately decide his fate. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it progresses through the federal court system.
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Weapons|Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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