A man from Missouri faces charges after allegedly shooting his neighbor in a deadly altercation that capped off a long-standing conflict.

Authorities report that 42-year-old Jeffrey King is accused of firing 13 shots at his neighbor, 41-year-old Chris Wells, in an attack that unfolded outside their homes. King reportedly claimed that Wells struck him first, according to details in a probable cause affidavit.

King Pc Statement by kc wildmoon

Upon arriving at the scene, police discovered King with his hands raised and Wells lying motionless on the pavement. King allegedly told officers, “He attacked me. Punched me in the face and I shot him dead.”

Two young witnesses recounted to the police that they observed the situation from a car, noting that King stood over Wells, who was facedown on the road.

“The juvenile witnesses each stated they observed King shoot the victim in the back as the victim was lying face down on the ground,” the document says.

Wells’ wife told police that King had a history of harassing neighbors that began before they moved into the neighborhood in 2023 and that the harassment had been documented by both the homeowner’s association and law enforcement. The incident that ended with Wells’ death on Monday began when the wife was out walking her dog when she saw King throw a blanket onto her front yard. She went inside and called her husband at work, and he came home to confront King.

The two met in the street, she said, and a physical altercation began that ended with multiple gunshots. The wife did not see the shooting but came out and saw Wells lying in the street.

The affidavit concludes with the statement that “King has been involved in a long running series of confrontations with his neighbors which have over time only escalated in severity.”

Neighbors came to court on Wednesday, when King pleaded not guilty to murder and armed criminal action, KCTV said.

“I’m sickened,” Courtney Brown said. “I was just intently focused on him. Looking at him and just trying to think how could someone be so vain.”

Wells, she said, “was a very good guy.”

“He didn’t deserve to be the one to get gunned down like that,” Brown said. “I just hope that justice is served, and he gets what he deserves.”

King was ordered held on a $5 million bond with a hearing set for next Tuesday.