Authorities are in the preliminary stages of investigating the Super Bowl parade shooting that occurred in Kansas City, Missouri, yesterday. However, if the perpetrators are apprehended and convicted, they could face the most severe punishment available under Missouri law.
Missouri is among the 27 states where capital punishment remains legal, although the criteria for such convictions are stringent.
For capital punishment to be considered, the accused must first be found guilty of first-degree murder, with the conviction involving specific “aggravating factors.” These factors include prior convictions for murder or serious assaults, murder committed during the commission of another felony, murder of a law enforcement officer, and others outlined in state law.
Prosecutors will determine whether any of these aggravating factors apply to the Super Bowl parade shooting. If the accused is convicted of first-degree murder, the same jury must unanimously decide on the sentence. However, if the jury cannot reach a unanimous decision, the presiding judge will impose the sentence.
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In the case of a death sentence, only the Governor of Missouri has the authority to grant clemency before execution.
Since 1976, Missouri has executed nearly 100 individuals, with four executions occurring last year alone. Presently, there are 12 individuals on death row in Missouri, some of whom have been awaiting execution for decades.
