KC man is accused of shooting acquaintance during argument, dumping body in street

Jackson County prosecutors accuse a 22-year-old Kansas City man of shooting an acquaintance, dumping the body in the street and ordering someone else to burn the car to destroy the evidence.

Kimani I. Sterling faces charges of second-degree murder, armed criminal action and evidence tampering in the Nov. 15 death of Ja’Que Dawkins, 23, at 57th and Oak streets.

According to court records, Sterling, Dawkins and two other people left a nightclub at 1822 Main St. and got into a rental car about 2 a.m. Sterling rode in the front passenger seat and Dawkins was seated behind him. After they got into an argument in the Brookside area, Sterling pulled a pistol and shot Dawkins two to four times. The driver stopped the car, and Sterling pulled Dawkins out of the back seat. A friend following them in another vehicle heard the shots and saw Sterling pull the body from the car. Shortly afterward, Sterling ordered someone else to burn the car. Police found it engulfed in flames near 62nd Street and Forrest Avenue.

Prosecutors charged Stephone D. Taylor, 29, in connection with the car fire. He faces a charge of knowingly burning and tampering with physical evidence.

This story was originally published December 23, 2015 at 2:57 PM with the headline "KC man is accused of shooting acquaintance during argument, dumping body in street."