A 34-year-old Missouri man, Ruslan Huseynov, has been apprehended by authorities in connection with a fatal road rage shooting. The victim, Dennis Sharkey Jr., 50, was a sports reporter. Huseynov is facing charges of second-degree murder, unlawful use of a weapon, and armed criminal action.
The incident transpired around 7 p.m. on January 10 on Interstate 29 near Northwest 72nd Street, just north of Kansas City. According to an arrest affidavit, a couple driving in the vicinity witnessed two vehicles come to a halt in the far right lane. They observed a man, later identified as Huseynov, exit the front vehicle, brandishing a firearm. As they maneuvered around the stopped vehicles, they heard a gunshot and promptly dialed 911.
Upon arrival at the scene, authorities discovered Sharkey’s vehicle crashed into a fence off the highway. Sharkey was found unresponsive and suffering from a gunshot wound. He was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
Investigation of the scene led to the discovery of a single 9 mm shell casing on the highway near the location of the shooting. Detectives were able to identify Huseynov as the suspect after obtaining a search warrant for cell tower data, which revealed the phones present in the area at the time of the incident. Surveillance footage also showed a vehicle matching Huseynov’s at the time of the crime.
During the investigation, detectives discovered that Huseynov had allegedly committed shoplifting at a grocery store on two separate occasions. He was taken into custody on these charges and questioned about the road rage shooting.
Despite initially denying ownership of a firearm, Huseynov was confronted with a photo from his iCloud account showing him holding a 9 mm handgun. He admitted to being the individual in the photo but claimed the gun belonged to a friend, whose name he could not recall. However, a 9 mm handgun was found in a safe in his bedroom, which authorities later confirmed was the weapon used in Sharkey’s murder.
Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd praised the investigators’ relentless pursuit of justice in this challenging case. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, and the investigation is ongoing.
Sharkey was a reporter for the Platte County Citizen and was returning from covering a sports event when the incident occurred. He was also the primary caregiver for his mother, described as her “rock, her caretaker, and her provider” on a GoFundMe page.