INDEPENDENCE, Mo. -- Prosecutors said they have charged a 21-year-old Independence man in the shooting death of his mother's fiancee at his home.

John J. Horton Jr. was charged Sunday with second-degree murder and armed criminal action in the death of 40-year-old Stephen Batton. Police said Batton's girlfriend and another woman late Saturday flagged down a Kansas City officer, who found the victim's body on the rear floor of their car.

Another car containing Horton and two others arrived, and police arrested Horton.

Court records said Batton and his fiancee had been drinking with another couple, and were visiting Horton's home near South Cedar and East Golf avenues when they began arguing.

Police said Horton told them he grabbed a gun to scare Batton and it accidentally went off during a struggle, but Horton's mother said there was no altercation before he was shot.