Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that an Independence, Mo., man was indicted by a federal grand jury today for illegally possessing a firearm after a woman reported that he shot at her and her children.

Senecca T. Spencer, 40, of Independence, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo.

Today’s indictment alleges that Spencer, who has prior felony convictions, was in possession of a Jimenez Arms 9mm pistol and ammunition on May 25, 2016. The indictment replaces a federal criminal complaint that was filed against Spencer on May 26, 2016. Spencer remains in federal custody.

According to an affidavit filed in support or the original criminal complaint, police officers were called to an Independence residence on a report of a domestic violence disturbance and shots fired at the scene. When they arrived at the residence, the affidavit says, the victim told officers that she and Spencer had been arguing and the argument escalated. When he left the house, allegedly carrying the 9mm pistol, she and her children locked all the doors and windows to prevent his return.

The victim told police that as she and her children were standing in the kitchen area of the residence, Spencer pointed the handgun at her, from the “porch area” of the residence, through a window, and fired the handgun. Investigators later determined that a bullet had shattered the kitchen window, traveled through the house and penetrated an interior wall/trim area.

Spencer was stopped in his vehicle near the intersection of 43rd Street and Phelps and arrested. As he was being placed under arrest, a police officer found a 9mm cartridge in Spencer’s front left pocket. The loaded 9mm pistol was discovered in the center console area of the vehicle.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. According to the affidavit, Spencer has at least 11 felony convictions, including seven felony convictions for assault and violent crimes, and convictions related to breaking and entering and possession of controlled substances with the intent to distribute them.

Dickinson cautioned that the charge contained in this indictment is simply an accusation, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charge must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bradley K. Kavanaugh. It was investigated by the Independence, Mo., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

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This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, is available on-line at

http://www.justice.gov/wdmo

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@USAO_WDMO

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