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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).
In a shocking incident in Missouri, a teenager allegedly used an automatic rifle with a red laser sight to fatally shoot his sister’s former boyfriend, police report. The victim tragically lost his life while reportedly protecting his mother.
Ke’Montae Phillips, 19, faces charges of second-degree murder and armed criminal action following a shooting that took place on March 10 in Kansas City, according to court records available online.
Details from a probable cause affidavit reveal that Phillips targeted the victim, whose age remains undisclosed, after the latter’s breakup with Phillips’ sister. The incident happened in the presence of the victim’s mother, who provided police with insights into the events leading to the fatal confrontation.
The affidavit explains, “Her son had been having ongoing issues with his ex-girlfriend’s brother after ending the relationship with her,” highlighting that Phillips had allegedly approached the victim about a week before the shooting during a walk with his mother.
Phillips is accused of making several comments to the victim concerning the deteriorated relationship with his sister, according to the affidavit.
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.