Suspect charged after shots fired inside Downtown apartment on Sunday

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- One adult male is in custody after multiple shots were reportedly fired inside a Downtown apartment on Sunday afternoon in St. Joseph.

The St. Joseph Police Department confirmed 27-year-old Romeloe Kevonte Ballard is charged with unlawful use of a weapon, a Class B felony, in connection with a shots-fired incident that took place Sunday afternoon inside an apartment complex at 210 N. 8th Street.

A press release from SJPD states the department received initial reports around 12:10 p.m. of shots being fired on the third floor of the complex.

Responding officers arrived on scene and encountered an armed male near the doorway of the apartment. The subject refused officers’ commands and was subsequently taken into custody after a Taser was deployed.

Upon investigation, officers located several spent shell casings and identified evidence of gunfire within the hallway area. The firearm was recovered from the suspect at the scene. 

Ballard is currently being held at the Buchanan County Jail on a $10,000 cash-only bond. No injuries were reported in the incident.