News, UCM News

Police seek murder charges after two arrests

Reginald L. Singletary

Ziyad T. Abid

(WARRENSBURG, Mo., digitalBURG) – Police are seeking murder charges for the two Warrensburg men arrested in connection with the homicide of a local businessman.

William “Blaine” Whitworth was shot and killed in his driveway Saturday in the 1000 block of Sunflower. Police responded to a call about shots fired at 9:30 p.m. Police found Whitworth, 25, dead at the scene. Police confirmed that multiple shots were fired.

Reginald L. Singletary, 27, was arrested in Sedalia Tuesday evening and brought back to Warrensburg for questioning. He was booked on charges of first-degree murder and armed criminal action.

Ziyad T. Abid, 23, was arrested shortly after midnight today and booked on a charge of first-degree murder. Both are being held in the Johnson County Jail pending formal charges being filed. Abid is an international UCM student from Saudi Arabia.

Warrensburg Police Chief Bruce Howey announced the arrests Wednesday morning and credited the work of the Missouri Rural Major Case Squad.

“That’s the awesome power of the Major Case Squad,” Howey said, noting the squad logged some 490 hours since Tuesday.

The chief said the squad followed 69 leads yesterday and has a few more to pursue today.

“We’ll be putting in another full day of following up on leads,” Howey said.

He would not discuss a motive in the case, deferring those inquiries to court documents that are to be filed today.

Whitworth operated two bars in downtown Warrensburg, Molly’s at Holden and East Pine streets and Bodie’s on West Pine Street. He also studied safety management at the University of Central Missouri.

The number of people responding to a Facebook post to say they would attend a candlelight vigil tonight continues to grow. Some 913 have responded as of 10 a.m. today. The vigil is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. tonight and is to begin at Molly’s with Whitworth’s mother, Diane Whitworth, lighting the first candle at 9:30 p.m.

Police are blocking off the streets downtown to accommodate those wishing to pay their respects.

“We are blocking the streets so they will have a nice quiet place so they can have their candlelight vigil,” Howey said.

Police ask that anyone with more information in the case should call the police department at 660-747-9133.

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