By Amanda Lubinski
ALubinski@cherryroad.com

CLAY COUNTY — Joshua T. Rocha, who faces murder and armed criminal action charges in the 2022 shooting death of North Kansas City police officer Daniel Vasquez, was back in court Nov. 25. At the center of the hearing were search warrants and evidence collected in the investigation.

In the courtroom, Rocha, wearing ankle and wrist shackles, could be seen listening and writing notes to his attorneys, who were arguing a handful of motions. Those motions involved search warrants of Rocha’s and his family’s belongings like his phone, car and Facebook account; and his family’s property. His attorneys argued some of the warrants were “too broad” and asked they be suppressed at trial, which is set to begin in September 2025.

The court denied several of the motions to suppress, but took two under advisement.

Vasquez was killed in July of 2022 during a traffic stop after he pulled Rocha over. Rocha was driving a vehicle with an expired temporary plate. According to court documents, Rocha allegedly said he was on the way to purchase ammunition for the rifle he had in the car with him when Vasquez pulled him over. According to the documents, Rocha told police he did not want to go to jail or have his vehicle towed so when Vasquez approached the door of the Taurus he drove, Rocha shot him with the rifle.

The accused shooter also allegedly then told investigators he got out of the car and shot the officer again while he was laying on the ground. The probable cause statement reports Rocha told police at some point his rifle jammed, so he had to clear it, and in doing so, shot Vasquez again.

Clay County Prosecutor Zach Thompson is seeking the death penalty in the case, the first in the county in nearly three decades. The next court date in the case is scheduled for Jan. 31, 2025.