A Missouri man is facing charges of first-degree murder following a fatal shooting incident at a CVS store in North Kansas City. The accused, 29-year-old Antonio Serrano, allegedly shot a CVS employee eight times, resulting in the employee’s death. Serrano reportedly told law enforcement officials that he could have caused more harm, including to the officers who responded to the incident, but decided against it.
The incident took place on a Thursday afternoon, claiming the life of 42-year-old Rusty Donovan, an employee at the CVS store. Court documents indicate that Serrano fired nearly a dozen rounds at Donovan, who was stationed behind the store counter during the attack.
Reports suggest that Serrano’s ex-partner is also an employee at the same CVS store but was not present at the time of the incident. Surveillance footage and police reports show that Serrano initially aimed his firearm at a female employee before turning his weapon on Donovan. He reportedly continued to fire at Donovan even after he had fallen to the ground.
Following the shooting, Serrano allegedly requested another employee to dial 911, expressing his intention to surrender to the police. Upon their arrival, he reportedly told the officers that he could have shot them if he had wanted to, and that he could have harmed more people but chose not to. He also contemplated fleeing the scene but decided against it.
Serrano expressed regret for his actions, stating that he “probably deserves life in prison” for the shooting. He also claimed that he did not understand why he committed the act.
Police records reveal that Serrano had visited the same CVS store a week before the shooting and had an altercation with another employee, which resulted in the police being called. It remains unclear whether this employee was his former partner. Serrano has a history of arrests and was convicted of resisting arrest in 2019.
Clay County Prosecutor Zach Thompson praised the North Kansas City Police Department for their quick and ongoing investigation, which led to the charges being filed. He expressed his prayers for all those affected by the “shocking and brutal act of violence.”
CVS has offered counseling and support services to all store colleagues to help them cope with the tragic incident.