Case against teen charged in killing of KC Irish chef to remain in juvenile court
A 15-year-old charged with murder in the fatal shooting of well-known Kansas City chef Shaun Brady last year won’t face prosecution as an adult, a Jackson County judge ruled.
During a Wednesday hearing, Jackson County Family Court Administrative Judge Jennifer Phillips announced she had denied a request to send the case against the youth — identified in court by his initials, K.H. — out of family court, where juvenile cases are prosecuted, to the general court system.
She also ordered K.H. remain in secure detention and set the trial for Sept. 23 and 24.
The decision came following two days of testimony before Phillips during which she heard cases from attorneys representing the youth and the Office of the Juvenile Officer.
An attorney for K.H. highlighted through testimony the youth’s turbulent childhood, which was marked by violence, family strife and a cancer diagnosis, while an attorney for the Office of the Juvenile Officer pointed to the serious nature of the shooting.
K.H. is charged with counts of second-degree murder, attempted stealing of a vehicle and armed criminal action.
Brady, 44, was fatally shot Aug. 28 during a confrontation with a group while he was taking out the trash at Brady & Fox, the Irish restaurant he co-owned in Kansas City’s Brookside neighborhood.
K.H. and another teen were arrested shortly after the shooting. In December, charges were dropped against the other youth, who has been identified as L.M, and he was released after he spent three months in juvenile custody. At the time, an attorney for that youth said officials had rushed to hold someone accountable for the shooting and had mistakenly charged L.M.
