By Amanda Lubinski
ALubinski@cherryroad.com

CLAY COUNTY — Zach Thompson, the prosecutor for Clay County, has filed his first case under Blair’s Law, which banned celebratory gun fire and created criminal charges for those firing guns negligently. The legislation was signed into law last year under then-Gov. Mike Parson.

In the Clay County case, Garrett M. Richardson, 41, faces a misdemeanor charge of unlawful discharge of a firearm under Blair’s Law and a felony charge of possession of a firearm stemming from a Feb. 20 investigation of a man firing a handgun into the air at an apartment building on Northeast Harlem Road in Kansas City.

“After a short (standoff), officers were able to take Garrett Richardson into custody. Thanks to eyewitness accounts and a number of recovered shell casings, investigators determined that Richardson —who is also a convicted felon — was in violation of Blair’s Law, which strengthens penalties for reckless firearm discharges within city limits,” reads a release from Thompson’s office about the case.

According to court documents, the incident began after 2 p.m. Feb. 20, when officers responded to calls of about 15 to 20 shots being fired by a man outside the apartment complex. Once on scene, officers say they located Richardson armed on the second-floor walkway of the complex.

“They (observed) him enter and exit apartment … multiple times while holding a black handgun in his right hand. Mr. Richardson then walked south, slightly out of view of officers. Officers could hear multiple shots fired coming from where Mr. Richardson had walked, and immediately after the shooting stopped, observed Mr. Richardson again re-enter apartment.”

A standoff began and a tactical team were sent in. Richardson was taken into custody when he left his apartment and was allegedly beating on the door of another apartment.

According to investigators, a search warrant executed at Richardson’s apartment located a 9mm handgun along with spent and live ammunition. Dozens of shell casings were also located outside the apartment that allegedly matched the caliber of the ammunition found in Richardson’s apartment.

“I commend the responding officers who protected our community by quickly responding to the scene, securing the defendant and conducting a professional investigation,” said Thompson.

Richardson remains in Clay County Detention Center in lieu of $75,000 bond. An arraignment is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 24. More details will be published as they become available.