A man from Missouri has been arrested in connection with a shooting on January 10th that resulted in the death of a former sports reporter.
Ruslan Huseynov, 34, faces multiple charges including two counts of armed criminal action and illegal use of a weapon tied to the death of Dennis Sharkey Jr., according to records from Platte County.
The Kansas City Police responded to a 911 call around 7 PM on January 10th, while following Huseynov and Sharkey’s vehicles on I-29.
As stated in a probable cause filing from Platte County, Huseynov’s vehicle was ahead of Sharkey’s, and there was an eyewitness positioned directly behind Sharkey.
Witnesses reported seeing both vehicles come to a stop. They indicated that it looked like Huseynov’s car was forcing Sharkey to halt on the interstate.
After maneuvering into the center lane, the witnesses continued driving south on I-29 but noticed the suspect’s vehicle. They reported seeing a man with a gun aimed at the victim’s car, and then he fled the scene. While driving away, they heard gunshots and called 911.
Sharkey, with a gunshot wound, was discovered crashed into a fence along I-29. Emergency responders transported him to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 7:51 PM.
Authorities connected cell phone data from the vicinity of the crash to Huseynov and discovered a bullet casing at the scene.
Police suspect Huseynov’s phone was active in the area where the shooting occurred, based on records from mobile towers and traffic patterns during the time Sharkey was shot, as outlined in the probable cause statement.
A search warrant executed on Huseynov’s phone placed him in Platte County earlier that day, and records indicated he had visited a liquor store nearby.
Huseynov was previously arrested in March for a traffic violation and again in June on unrelated charges. Following his June arrest, police scrutinized his cell phone records regarding the January 10th incident.
They found 9mm ammunition related to the shooting and later searched his home, uncovering a 9mm firearm and matching ammunition, which corresponded to the shells found at the crime scene.
A Gofundme campaign titled “Honor Dennis: Supporting His Mother in Her Needs Times” described Sharkey as a devoted son and friend, emphasizing the difficulties faced by his mother after this tragic loss.
The 50-year-old Sharkey worked for various news outlets in Missouri and Kansas throughout his career, covering sports as a reporter and photographer.
Sharkey was reportedly passionate about sports, particularly the Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals, and had a close bond with his maternal grandmother, Edna.
Huseynov remains in custody at the Pratt County Detention Center, and, at the time of this report, there were no attorneys listed for him in public records.
