Editor's note: Updated March 20 after charges were dropped against Landon Mikle — Four Lee's Summit men are in custody, charged with carrying a loaded weapon onto the campus of Lee's Summit High School after classes were dismissed on Wednesday.
In a probable cause statement filed with the charge sheet, Lee's Summit Police describe a small arsenal found in the men's car, including an AR-15 style rifle, a shotgun, a loaded handgun, several gun magazines, and a box of shotgun shells.
An evidence list also includes at least two baggies of "suspected marijuana" and Xanax.
According to the probable cause statement, the men charged are: Tanner Nicholson, 17; Scott Ryan, 19; Tynan Mullen, 18, a former Lee's Summit High School student who, according to a school resource officer interviewed by police, was "told not to be on campus"; and Landon Mikle, 18, a student at the school.
Jackson County prosecutors dismissed the charges against Mikle on March 19.
"After a closer review of evidence presented to us by police, we determined it was appropriate to dismiss charges against this one defendant. Charges against the other defendants remain," spokesman Michael Mansur told KCUR in a statement.
In interviews included in the probable cause statement, Ryan says before coming to the school, the four drove to an unknown address in Lee's Summit and bought a shotgun from a private seller on Craigslist. Then, they drove to Lake Jacomo, where they handled and loaded the shotgun and AR-15 style rifle.
Ryan says they then went to Lee's Summit High School about 2 p.m. "to play a game of football."
After driving to the school and parking, Mikle says Nicholson and Ryan saw someone on campus they "had a beef" with.
"So they jumped out of the car to confront [the person]," the investigating officer wrote. "They never fought and worked out their beef, and got back in the car."
Another witness, listed in the probable cause statement as an anonymous source, says the men told the source they were there "to take care of business." The source says the four all flashed guns.
The men then left the school and were arrested hours later by Lee's Summit Police outside a residence on southeast Lana Street in Lee's Summit.
On Thursday afternoon, Lee's Summit High School officials notified parents that they were working with law enforcement. In a follow-up message later, Principal John Faulkenberry said he was grateful to students and families who had "stepped forward to provide information related to this incident" and for the work of police and prosecutors.
"I want to assure you that we take any criminal activity on our school grounds very seriously and we are absolutely committed to continuing to work with our employees and law-enforcement officials to provide our students and staff members with a safe environment," Faulkenberry said.
Prosecutors have requested a $50,000 bond for each defendant.
For the charge of carrying a loaded weapon onto school property, each of the men faces up to four years in prison.
Kyle Palmer is KCUR's morning newscaster. You can follow him on Twitter @kcurkyle.
