INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — Two accused burglars appeared before a judge on Monday. Police say the two shot a well-known Royals superfan and killed a teenager who was part of the criminal crew.
Friends have identified the dead teenager as Dylan Thompson, 16.
Thompson’s best friend, Dustan Donlan, 18, and Thompson’s mother’s boyfriend, Phillip Kisner, 41, are each charged with felony first-degree burglary and second-degree murder.
Police say the three broke into the home of sports superfan Jimmy Faseler Friday night. When Faseler came home and interrupted the burglary, both Faseler and Thompson were shot.
“Dylan’s mom’s boyfriend took her son and our son into the house to commit a crime and the boys are just going along with it,” said Mandy Donlan, Dustan’s mother. “Kind of like to fit in, to be part of the crowd. He’s an 18-year-old boy who has lost his whole life. And he has a lot of people who love him.”
Donlan’s family blames Kisner for the break-in and shootings. They say Dustin, who cried openly in court, lost his best friend, and may be charged with Thompson’s murder.
“That is so horrible but that is his best friend,” said Adrianna Middaugh, Donlan’s friend. “His best friend died in his arms. To have to deal with that, to get charged with murder of your best friend. That’s horrible. It’s unfair. It’s cruel.”
Friends of the burglary victim, Royals superfan Jimmy Faseler, say he’s breathing on his own after being taken off a respirator. His smile and humor have returned. Faseler works as an admissions director at a boarding school for teens.
His boss, Jim Subers, says Faseler is showing off the 18-inch scar in his chest, and even proposed marriage to the doctor who helped save his life.
“Jimmy’s got a tremendous role with teenagers,” Subers said. “He’s well loved by teens and their families. It kind of makes this whole situation a little ironic that it was actually some teenagers involved in assault against him. He’s a tremendous asset to our team. We are so thankful that he’s doing better.”
Kisner and Donlan are being held on $250,000 cash bond. Both men are due back in Jackson County Court on April 15.
Subers says Faseler still needs prayers from those in the community. Donations also are being accepted at Shelterwood Academy, where Faseler works, to help pay his medical expenses.