LIBERTY, Mo. — Opening statements began Monday in the trial of Joshua Rocha, the man accused of killing North Kansas City Police Officer Daniel Vasquez in July 2022. On Tuesday, several key witnesses took the stand.
Dr. Altaf Hossain, who performed Vasquez's autopsy, testified Tuesday. He said Officer Vasquez was shot in the face and abdomen. Dr. Hossain said the wounds were fatal.
The cause of death was gunshot wounds to the face and abdomen, according to Dr. Hossain, and the manner of death was ruled a homicide.
Prosecutors on Tuesday showed the X-ray of Vasquez's body. Hossain said the X-ray showed that the bullet from the gunshot wound to Vasquez's abdomen severed his spinal cord and hit several organs, including his spleen, liver and colon. Dr. Hossain said the bullet went up throu