Share this @internewscast.com
Inset: Ke’Montae Phillips (Jackson County Sheriff’s Office). Background: The area in Kansas City, Mo., where Ke’Montae Phillips allegedly shot and killed his sister’s ex-boyfriend after their relationship went “sour” (Google Maps).
A teenager from Missouri allegedly used an automatic rifle equipped with a red laser to fatally shoot his sister’s former boyfriend, driven by tensions from their soured relationship, authorities report. The victim was reportedly shielding his mother at the time of the incident.
Nineteen-year-old Ke’Montae Phillips faces charges of second-degree murder and armed criminal action following the tragic events that took place on March 10 in Kansas City, as indicated by court records available online.
The details, outlined in a probable cause affidavit, reveal that Phillips allegedly targeted the young man, whose age has not been disclosed, after a breakup with Phillips’ sister. The shooting occurred in front of the victim’s mother, who provided police with an account of the events leading to the attack.
According to the affidavit, the victim had been embroiled in ongoing conflicts with his ex-girlfriend’s brother following the end of the relationship. Phillips allegedly confronted the victim about a week before the shooting, making several comments about the breakup while the victim’s mother was present.
The fatal encounter happened on March 10, when the victim and his mother were walking near 55th Street and Chestnut Avenue by 71 Highway. At that moment, Phillips allegedly approached and began shooting, as reported by police and the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office.
On March 10, the victim and his mom were walking together again in an area near 55th Street and Chestnut Avenue by 71 Highway when Phillips showed up and opened fire on them, according to police and the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office.
The affidavit says the victim met up with his mother and appeared to be “scared,” telling her something to the effect of “they are following me,” but she told cops she “could not get a cohesive story regarding what he meant,” per the affidavit.
“The victim had a rifle tucked into his pants,” the document notes.
“As [the mom and victim] entered the intersection … the same male … from the week prior began approaching her and her son on foot,” the affidavit recounts. “[Phillips] said something like ‘you clutching?’ to her son and then produced a rifle-style weapon with a red laser light. [Phillips] then began firing an automatic weapon at her and her son.”
According to police, “her son shielded her while they both fled on foot,” and was struck by the ensuing gunfire. The mom “began performing CPR on her son while numerous neighbors came outside to watch/assist,” the affidavit says.
At least 35 shell casings were found in the area by police.
Cops report that surveillance footage from the city and dashcams captured the shooting and what led up to it on video. A sedan that Phillips was allegedly seen getting out of and into was spotted on camera circling the area where the shooting happened and appeared to follow the victim and his mother as they were walking.
Automated license plate readers were allegedly used to track the sedan.
After arresting him, Phillips was shown photographs and screen grabs of himself captured on video and he denied being involved, while saying the person in the photo “looked like his twin,” according to the affidavit.
“When we showed him a picture of the victim, he stated that’s the guy that got murdered prior to detectives telling him that was the victim,” the affidavit says.
Phillips was being held over the weekend on a $250,000 cash-only bond, with a bond review hearing scheduled for Wednesday. He’s due to appear in court on April 15, as well, for his preliminary hearing.