Suspects arrested in Crawford County homicide

CRAWFORD COUNTY– The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), the Pittsburg Police Department, and the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office are conducting an investigation into the death of a male from Weir, Kansas.

Preliminary indications are the death is a result of homicide.

On Friday, Feb.17 at approximately 2:30 p.m., Pittsburg Police received a 911 call from Collin Pal Gepford, 43, reporting someone was shot.

Police located the victim, David Duane Mays, 51, of Weir, in the roadway near 1023 N Main in Pittsburg, Kan. Mays suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the chest.

At approximately 3:00 p.m., the KBI Crime Scene Response Team and investigative was requested by the Crawford County Sheriff.

During the course of the investigation, it was determined there was an altercation that resulted in gunfire.

Another male victim was identified, questioned by police, and released.

Gepford was arrested and charged with suspicion of attempted premeditated first-degree murder and felony murder. Gepford was arrested without incident and booked into the Crawford County Jail.

Travis Blake Conness, 32, of Neosho, Mo., is also a suspect, he has been located and is no longer at large. Conness has been arrested and will be charged with suspicion of attempted premeditated first-degree murder and felony murder. Conness was arrested without incident and booked into the Crawford County Jail.

An autopsy will be performed Tuesday, Feb. 21.

The Kansas Highway Patrol and Kansas Wildlife and Parks also assisted with this investigation.

The Crawford County Attorney will prosecute the case. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The investigation is ongoing. No further information will be released at this time.