Kansas man charged in Houston Lake murder

A Shawnee Mission, Kan., man has been charged with the June 21 shooting death of Jacob Stowers in Houston Lake.

Coty Borst, 26, faces second-degree murder and armed criminal action charges in the death of Jacob Stowers. He is also charged with the misdemeanor of assault on a police animal.

 Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd said charges were filed on June 22 following an investigation by the Platte County Sheriff’s Department, Missouri State Highway Patrol, and Kansas City Police Department.

 According to court documents, Borst allegedly shot Stowers around 9:16 p.m. on Thursday, June 21 at a house in the 5400 block of NW Venetian Drive in Houston Lake.  Stowers, 24, was transported to North Kansas City Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 11:41 p.m.

 Borst allegedly fled after the shooting and was found in a creek bed about 100 yards from the house, with help of the Kansas City Police Department’s helicopter and K-9 unit.

Kansas City police K-9 Rudy located Borst and latched onto his left arm.  Borst then forced a handgun to the dog’s head.  Officers issued commands to Borst not to shoot the dog, and Borst eventually dropped the handgun in the creek.  Borst was transported to a local hospital before being transferred to the Platte County Detention Center.

 The handgun was later recovered by the Kansas City Crime Scene Unit.  Crime scene investigators also recovered a shell casing from the house.

While being led away, he commented it ‘was self-defense and I was only defending myself.’ Borst later said Stowers shot at him first. While being treated for the dog bite, Borst said the victim shot at him ‘three or four’ times. The KCPD Crime Scene Unit located only one shell casing, according to court documents.

The girlfriend of the victim stated the victim and Borst had been drinking and she wanted Borst to leave. She said Borst left but came back with a gun that he pointed at her, before shooting Stowers, according to court documents.

 Court documents state that preliminary findings from the Jackson County Medical Examiner’s Office indicate that Stowers was shot in the rear left lower flank, a wound that is consistent with being shot from behind.

 Borst is being held on a $150,000 cash bond. If convicted of murder, he faces up to life in prison.

 The case is being investigated by the Platte County Sheriff’s Department, with the assistance of the Kansas City (Mo.) Police Department.

 It is being prosecuted by Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Blake Sherer.