Local man arrested for attempted murder of informant

The affidavit detailed accusations that arose through a joint investigation after troopers with the Missouri State Highway Patrol attempted to stop a vehicle carrying Mr. Hill and another person.

“Agents had received information that Hill was bringing powder cocaine from Kansas City, Kan., to St. Joseph and relayed the information to (Highway Patrol),” the federal complaint stated. “Before being stopped, Hill briefly eluded officers and allegedly tossed out the powder cocaine, which was not located at this time.”

After the traffic stop, Mr. Hill believed that a confidential informant told federal agents and other officers about the suspected drug, authorities said. He allegedly traveled back to the scene of the traffic stop several times to try to locate the cocaine.

Mr. Hill was seen by Buchanan County sheriff’s deputies as he searched, but told authorities he was searching for a lost ring. Officers also searched the area for the drugs, to no avail.

Shortly before 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 30, Mr. Hill was allegedly involved in a “shots fired” incident in the 700 block of South 21st Street, near the intersection of 21st and Messanie streets. Cmdr. Janice Rothganger said officers did not locate any victims or suspects, but did locate evidence of a motor vehicle accident at the scene.

“It appeared that a vehicle struck something, then fled,” Ms. Rothganger said.

Officers recovered parts from a Chevrolet Suburban at the scene before anonymous tips led to identifying Mr. Hill as the shooter, the complaint stated. The informant notified ATF agents that Mr. Hill shot at him near 21st and Messanie streets.

“The CI (confidential informant) further stated that Hill was in a tan Suburban, and that Hill had rammed the vehicle the CI was in as CI tried to leave the area because Hill had a gun,” the complaint stated.

Approximately six shots were fired at the informant, sources said.

A source told police he spoke to Mr. Hill, who said he was leaving St. Joseph “until things cooled down.” On Sept. 4, authorities learned that the informant spoke with “Pablo,” a leader of the Latin Kings street gang in St. Joseph, and that Mr. Hill attempted to hire a gang member to murder the informant.

Police located Mr. Hill during a traffic stop in the 1100 block of Maple Leaf Parkway last Saturday and arrested him without incident.

Mr. Hill remains in federal custody without bond. No court date has been set, pending a federal grand jury indictment.