For Immediate Release
July 31, 2018
A Kansas City man, 19, has been charged in fatal shooting of Leonard Joyner III Friday after a traffic accident on East 51st Street in Kansas City, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced today.
In addition, the murder defendant's 18-year-old girlfriend faces a charge for interfering with the police investigation.
Trevyon D. Shepheard, dob: 9/6/1998, faces Murder 2nd Degree, Armed Criminal Action and Tampering with Physical Evidence, while Rafeasia Kirkland, dob: 1/24/2000, faces Tampering with Physical Evidence.*
According to court records, Kansas City police responded Friday afternoon to a reported shooting in the 3500 block of East 51st Street in Kansas City. They found the victim, Leonard Joyner, dob: 8/3/1960, in the street, mortally wounded by gunshots. Nine .40-caliber shell casings were located by police. Divots were located in the asphalt beneath the victim. Witnesses told police that an accident had occurred near 51st and Swope Parkway. The victim, who was driving a tan vehicle, exited the vehicle, while a woman, who drove the other car and a passenger in that car argued. The victim appeared to offer money to the occupants of the other vehicle. Then, the defendant Shepheard brandished a firearm and fired several shots. At one point, the shooter went back to the victim, lying in the street, and fired more shots at the victim. Another witness reported to police the victim was shot while he was lying on the ground. The defendants then fled the scene. The male defendant told police he shot the victim eight times. He also picked up what he thought might be a gun at the scene and after realizing it was fake firearm or a BB gun he tossed it from the car window, he stated. And he traded the gun he used in the shooting to an unknown man. He also stated that Kirkland recorded the incident and deleted the recording later. Kirkland told detectives she drove Shepheard away from the scene of the shooting to a spot where he threw out the victim's BB gun.
Prosecutors requested bonds of $250,000 for Shepheard and $15,000 for Kirkland.
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
mmansur@jacksongov.org
http://jacksoncountyprosecutor.com
*Charges are only accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until the defendant is either found guilty or has pleaded.