For Immediate Release
February 6, 2025
A Jackson County jury today convicted a Raytown man of two felonies in connection with a fatal shooting in Raytown in 2021, Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson announced today.
The jury convicted Robert E. Matlock Jr. of 2nd Degree Murder and Armed Criminal Action. The jury recommended 18 years for murder and seven years for Armed Criminal Action.
According to court records, Raytown police were dispatched to the 7700 block of Raytown Road after receiving a call from the defendant, who said he had shot his roommate who lunged at him during an argument. Police arrived at the residence and found the victim suffering from several gunshots. The defendant told police he shot the victim because he thought he was going to attack him. The defendant also showed police a video from his phone, showing him shooting the victim.
An autopsy on the victim revealed gunshot wounds along his right side and the right quarter of his back.
“I am proud of our incredible prosecution team who worked tirelessly on this challenging case to ensure justice was served. While the defendant claimed self-defense under the castle doctrine, the prosecution team was able to show the jury those rights do not apply just because an incident occurs near someone’s bedroom door in a shared home. The prosecution team was able to help the jury understand that roommates share common areas, where the victim was standing at the time of the shooting, and deadly force is not reasonable in those situations. The team’s work on this case shows the castle doctrine cannot be used as a blanket excuse for any act of violence inside a home,” Prosecutor Johnson said.
The defendant will be sentenced on March 20.
Chief Trial Attorney Traci Rupp-Stansell and Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Erica Frank prosecuted the case on behalf of the state of Missouri.
Media Contact:
Jazzlyn Johnson
Director of Communications
Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office
415 E 12th Street
Kansas City, MO - 64106
(816) 929-1289
jazzlyn.johnson@jacksongov.org
https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com