Man sentenced in shooting of Kansas City man in front of ex-girlfriend, six children
A Kansas City man has been sentenced in Jackson County Court after breaking into the home of his ex-girlfriend and fatally shooting her boyfriend in front of six children.
Derek C. Jones, 25, was sentenced to 22 years in prison — the maximum permitted under the plea deal he signed — in the murder of Darryl B. Brown III, 24. Jones pleaded guilty in November to second-degree murder, along with armed criminal action, child endangerment and violating an order of protection against him, according to court records.
Brown was shot on March 12, 2023, in his home in the 8300 block of Highland Avenue in Kansas City. Officers responded to the house around 8:15 p.m. following reports of gunfire, according to court records.
Witnesses told investigators that Jones had knocked on the door and Brown had answered, holding a firearm, according to court documents. Jones, also armed, forced his way into the home and started firing a handgun at Brown, court documents read.
The woman who was Jones’ ex-partner and Brown’s current partner was standing next to Brown as Jones shot him and had tried to intervene by closing the door on Jones, according to court documents. Jones fired at least three rounds of shots at Brown, court documents read, before fleeing in a car registered to his grandmother. Brown was pronounced dead at the scene.
Six children witnessed the shooting from inside the home, two from a front room and four from their bedrooms, according to court records. One of the children was Brown’s son and four were Brown’s girlfriend’s children, including two she shared with Jones.
About 30 minutes after the shooting, Jones was arrested at a gas station near his home in the Swope Park Campus neighborhood of Kansas City, according to court documents.
After Jones “shot up” her home the previous August, the woman had gotten an order of protection, which prohibited him from visiting the house on Highland Avenue, according to court documents.
“This sentence sends a strong message that domestic violence or violence in any form will never be tolerated in Jackson County,” Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson said in a statement Monday night.
Darryl Brown III, known to loved ones as “Deerock,” was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, according to an obituary shared online. He graduated from Central High School and had previously worked at Palmentere Brothers Distributing in North Kansas City, and as a security guard, according to the obituary.
Brown enjoyed spending time with family and close friends, according to the obituary. He is survived by three children.
“Deerock accomplished many great things throughout his time here on earth & in life,” Brown’s obituary reads.
Brown’s death was the 27th homicide reported in Kansas City in 2023, according to data collected by The Star.
