For Immediate Release
Nov. 26, 2024
A Jackson County judge today sentenced a Kansas City man to 40 years in prison for the fatal shooting of Shayla Curts, 22, and her unborn child, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced today.
Emmett C. Williams, dob: 2/15/1989, had in June pleaded guilty to two counts of Murder 2nd Degree and two counts of Armed Criminal Action charges.
On Tuesday, the judge sentenced the defendant to 25 years on the murder convictions and 15 years on the Armed Criminal Action convictions.
According to court records, on Dec. 6, 2022, KC police officers were dispatched to the 4900 block of Bellefontaine Avenue on a reported shooting. Officers found the victim, Shayla Curts, dob: 3/12/2000, deceased at the scene from a gunshot wound. Witnesses placed the defendant at the scene at the time of the shooting. One reported hearing a gunshot when the victim and "EW" were in residence. A shell casing was located in the residence. The defendant told police the victim often antagonized him with her words and normally he ignored them. This time, she was on the couch as he was walking past her when he decided to pull a 9mm handgun and shoot her in the head. Police located the weapon later in a wooded area. The shooting took the life of Curts and her unborn child.
For more information, contact:
Michael Mansur
Director of Communication
Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office
Jean Peters Baker, Prosecutor
Work : (816) 881-3812
Mobile : (816) 674-3954
www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com
mmansur@jacksongov.org