Grandview man charged with killing Northland business owner during argument

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - A Grandview man is charged with first-degree murder in the death of a Northland business owner.

The Clay County Prosecutor’s office charged Joseph Lapsley with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in the death of 47-year-old Samuel Aro.

Police responded to a shooting at a strip mall near NE 79th Terrace and N. Oak Trafficway on March 23. The shooting happened around 2:30 a.m.

Investigators found several witnesses trying to save Aro’s life when they arrived. Aro suffered multiple gunshots and later died from his injuries at a hospital.

According to court documents, Aro and his family own the Hookah Lounge and Coffee Shop where he was shot. Officers found nine shell casings at the scene. They said five of the casings were located inside the coffee shop.

Witnesses at the scene identified the shooter as Joseph Lapsley. At least one witness said Lapsley showed up at the business because his girlfriend was at a party at the Hookah Lounge, according to a probable cause statement. One of the witnesses said Lapsley walked inside the coffee shop with a gun to find his girlfriend.

Detectives reviewed surveillance video from the shopping area. A court document shows a man prosecutors identified at Lapsley walk into the coffee shop with a gun. He is accused of shooting Ago multiple times. At one point the surveillance video shows Lapsley standing over Ago and shooting him while he is on the ground, according to the probable cause statement.

Court documents show police also matched Lapsley’s neck tattoo in his driver’s license to pictures on his Instagram to help confirm his identity.

Detectives also identified Lapsley’s cousin as the getaway driver who helped Lapsley leave the scene of the shooting.

Lapsley is in custody in the Clay County jail. He is scheduled to be in court on April 29th.

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