David L. Young III has been arrested and charged in the murder of Skylar Needham, according to the Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Office.
Needham, 30, was found dead of gunshot wounds on Aug. 15, 2021, in the Matney Park area, 3902 Shawnee Drive, Kansas City, Kansas.
According to Sheriff Dan Soptic, who held a news conference Wednesday, detectives worked diligently to compile evidence on the case and present it to the Wyandotte County District Attorney’s office for charges.
Detectives acquired an arrest warrant for Young in connection with the murder, and the warrant was turned over to the U.S. Marshals Service, according to the sheriff.
The Sheriff’s Office was notified on April 19 that Young was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals in Cleveland, Ohio, the sheriff stated.
Currently Young is charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder and criminal discharge of a firearm in connection with this case, according to Sheriff Soptic.
Sheriff Soptic stated that there were others involved in this murder and the Sheriff’s investigators will not stop until all who were involved are held accountable.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, Needham, the victim of the homicide, was a hard-working husband and father who had gone to the park that day to play the Pokemon Go game. He often played this game.
The Wyandotte County Sheriff thanked other law enforcement agencies that were involved in assisting with this case. These included the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department, Johnson County Sheriff’s Office and its crime lab, Crawford County Sheriff’s Office, Kansas Department of Corrections and its investigations unit, Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department, Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Neosho County Sheriff’s Office, Parsons Police Department, Shawnee Police Department, Johnson County Probation Office, U.S. Marshals Service and Wyandotte County District Attorney’s Office.
“It takes cooperation between all law enforcement agenices and cooperation with the community to keep everyone safe,” Sheriff Soptic said. “You have my commitment that we will continue to work with all our law enforcement partners in Wyandotte County in this common goal.”
“For those that think our parks is a place to go and commit crimes, remember that we will not tolerate it,” he stated. “We will continue to hold people accountable for their actions and provide a safe environment for everyone.”
Anyone with additional information on the homicide is asked to contact the Crime Stoppers TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS, Soptic stated. All tips remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward, according to authorities.