Jackson County prosecutors on Tuesday announced charges against a 22-year-old man for two crimes stemming from a fatal daytime shooting in the parking lot of an apartment complex in the Hillcrest neighborhood of southeast Kansas City. .
Mikell R. Grigsby, of Kansas City, has been charged with voluntary homicide and felony action with a weapon in the murder of 23-year-old Donnell James. He was being held in the Jackson County Jail on Tuesday on $100,000 cash bond.
Kansas City police officers responded to a reported May 20 shooting in the 8600 block of Drury Avenue. Locals heard the gunshots and came out to help a man who had been shot there. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to court documents, investigators at the crime scene. found eight spent rifle casings. The victim appears to have been shot from behind and a gun was found near his body.
Witnesses said homicide detectives Grigsby and James observed a fight between two women who were in an ongoing feud. At one point during the fight, two participants were armed with butcher knives, according to court documents, and James was seen swinging his gun back and forth during the fight.
Bystanders recorded videos in which Grigsby was heard threatening to fire his gun if James did not drop his. Grigsby is accused of firing his AR-style pistol at James after James appeared to lower his handgun.
The charging documents say Grigsby voluntarily responded to KCPD headquarters with an attorney on Friday and refused to provide a statement to detectives. Online court records did not list an attorney for Grigsby on Tuesday.
Under Missouri law, Grigsby faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted of intentional homicide. Armed criminal action also carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.