Two Kansas City men charged with murder in fatal 2023 Swope Parkway shooting
Two men have been charged in connection with a 2023 shooting near Swope Parkway in Kansas City that left one teenager dead.
SirMichael Harbin and Montell Essex-Benjamin, born in 2005 and 2004, are both being charged with one count of second-degree murder and one count of armed criminal action. Second-degree murder refers to murder without premeditation, and armed criminal action involves the use of a dangerous or deadly weapon.
On Nov. 11, 2023, officers responded to a shooting in the 4200 block of East 56th Street after hearing approximately 15 to 20 sounds of shots, according to court documents. The officers found a teenager lying in the front yard on the walkway leading to a house, according to court documents. The victim was taken to the Research Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.
Security camera footage
Officers obtained footage from security cameras on the house and observed a red Dodge Charger driving by the house and allegedly shooting at the victim before speeding off, according to court documents. The same day of the shooting, officers found the Charger with Essex-Benjamin near it, according to a Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office press release.
Essex-Benjamin and another man allegedly fled, but they were eventually taken into custody, according to the press release. Police also discovered that the Charger was stolen, according to court documents.
Cell phone data gathered during the investigation allegedly placed Essex-Benjamin in the area of the crime at the same time it happened, according to the release. He also allegedly had gunshot residue on his hands, according to the release.
Detectives allegedly found Harbin’s DNA inside the Charger and on a casing located at the scene of the crime, according to the release. Essex-Benjamin and Harbin are being held without bond.
Previous charges for the two men
Both Essex-Benjamin and Harbin have previously been charged with harassment and armed criminal action. Esssex-Benjamin has a trial scheduled in August for charges of robbery and armed criminal action, according to court documents. Harbin is currently on probation after pleading guilty to the harassment charge, according to court documents.
The two men are suspected to be involved with the “256/356” street gang. Harbin allegedly told someone, “We did that. That’s 356 heat” after the murder, according to court documents.
The Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office said both men were SAVE KC clients. SAVE KC is a 6-month-old violence-reduction program in Kansas City that aims to move gang members away from violence, according to a press release from the prosecutor’s office.
