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Since the investigation’s onset, Picerno has been vocal that Willis knew nothing about the men’s deaths.

"It's an awful thing when people have already presumed you're guilty without real evidence," Picerno said. "It's a tough row to hoe, and he's managing it as best he can."

Newton shot and killed two others and injured in another shooting on June 9, 2023. Newton was driving near East 31st Street and Van Brunt Boulevard when he saw a person on the driver’s side of a truck point a firearm out of the window toward a white van and drove off.

“(Newton) is still employed there, so sadly it’s another example of KCPD failing to impose any type of significant sanctions against their own employees who act outside the law, in our opinion,” Picerno said.

“I think its important any time a lawsuit is settled with law enforcement. Somebody has to police the police and apparently its not KCPD who is going to police their own employees,” Picerno said.

“My client is still living under a cloud of suspicion,” Picerno said. “The general public believes he is responsible for their deaths, and that’s simply not true. I knew it initially and... I think prosecutors know that as well and so it’s kind of frustrating that they won’t come out publicly and state that.”

'I can say with confidence that my client will not be charged in that regard. My client will not be charged in any manner with having to do with the untimely death of his friends,' Picerno revealed.

Picerno said Newton had no idea who was in the van and put people at risk when he opened fire. “I think that’s the biggest concern that the family has here, is that that did not have to happen that way,” Picerno said. “There were other alternatives.”

It says the victims presented no threat to Newton and that the officer “used an unreasonable amount of force because using deadly force was not necessary under the circumstances.”

Picerno said it was “shocking to think that killing unarmed people is justifiable under their current policy.” “It’s more sad than anything else.” Read more at: https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article286921050.html#storylink=cpy