2 days ago
Man who fired gun in Waldo bar out of jail; put on probation
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City man is out of jail and on probation just months after firing a gun inside a Waldo bar—a shot that narrowly missed a staff member by only mere inches.
The incident happened on Black Friday of last year. According to a probable cause statement, Alexander Pylypczuk had ordered a drink at the bar and later went to use the restroom.
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When he tried to open the single-stall bathroom door, he believed someone was holding it shut. In reality, it was a pull door, not a push.
Mistaking the situation as a threat, Pylypczuk pulled a handgun from his waistband and fired a single round.
'It missed one of my guys by probably about 12 inches,' said Shawn Larson, the owner of the bar. 'He would've hit that person possibly in the stomach, possibly killing somebody.'
Staff called 911 immediately and kicked Pylypczuk out of the establishment. Police arrived on scene and arrested him. In the charging documents, police wrote:
'Due to the violent nature of the incident, Pylypczuk should be considered a danger to the public.'
He was charged with unlawful use of a weapon while intoxicated and unlawful discharge of a weapon.
Seven months later, he is now out of jail and on probation.
This week, FOX4 confirmed that Pylypczuk is now out of jail and on SIS (Suspended Imposition of Sentence) probation following a plea deal with the Jackson County Prosecutor's Office.
In a statement to FOX4, the Prosecutor's Office explained their reasoning:
'While the probable cause statement does contain standard language about public safety risk, prosecutors must consider a wide range of factors before reaching a resolution. Given the defendant's background as a veteran with challenges, his lack of criminal history, and that no one was hurt in this incident, the Prosecutor's Office determined a lengthy SIS probation best serves both the safety of the community and the defendant's treatment. The SIS probation includes strict conditions that address our primary safety concerns: barring him from possessing a firearm—including forfeiting the firearm used in this case—and requiring participation in Veterans Court, which provides specialized treatment, while also ensuring defendant accountability.'
For bar staff and Larson, that explanation doesn't ease their concerns.
'It's because no one was hurt, so 12 inches is the dictator of how we treat that. The lack of accountability is ridiculous in my opinion,' Larson said.
He adds that small business owners like him are already stretched thin.
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'We have enough battles as it is with rising food costs, everything is more expensive, it's tough to just survive right now,' Larson said.
As part of his sentence, Pylypczuk must surrender the firearm used in the incident and is prohibited from being around weapons while on probation.
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