The suspected shooter in Kansas City could have been imprisoned on a previous gun charge. A change in Missouri gun laws set him free

The suspected gunman in the Kansas City bar shooting had previous firearm charges that could have sent him to prison, but legislators changing gun laws that went into effect in 2017 kept him free.

Jahron Swift, 29, was found dead in a parking lot Sunday night after he pulled out a gun and opened fire while waiting in line at a bar Sunday night.

Police said the bar’s armed security guard engaged with Swift, shooting him dead. A 25-year-old woman was also found at the scene, she was identified as Raeven Parks. Fifteen other people were injured.

Court records show that Swift had two weapons charges in 2016 and 2017.

The 2016 charge was for unlawful use of a weapon and marijuana possession, according to court records. Swift was charged in 2017 with unlawful concealed carry, which could have revoked his probation on the previous charge and increased his chances of going to prison, Mike Mansur, the Jackson County prosecutor spokesman, told CNN.

However, the second charge came as Missouri legislature adopted measures that permitted concealed weapons being carried without a permit.

“I can’t say that he would have been imprisoned but I can say that the change in the law assured that he would be free because that charge went away,” Mansur said.

As a result of this change, the second charge against Swift was dropped by the county prosecutor.

The change in the law “assured that we couldn’t do anything further building off that earlier charge,” Mansur said.

Additional efforts by the prosecutor’s office to confine Swift also failed. Officials tried to have his bond revoked, but Mansur said the court denied the request.

Clarification: This story has been updated to clarify that the law went into effect in 2017.