After dodging charges for shooting 3, KC residents demand firing of ‘problem’ cop
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Citizens urged firing of officer Blayne Newton after June 2023 triple shooting.
- Prosecutor declined charges citing Missouri defense-of-others statute; public objected.
- Board of Police Commissioners remained silent; chief holds firing recommendation power.
One after the other, a group of citizens voiced their outrage that a Kansas City police officer who killed three people while on duty remains employed with the police force.
Citizens spoke during Tuesday’s Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners meeting, the first since Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson announced that she would not pursue charges against Officer Blayne Newton.
Newton was involved in a June 2023 triple shooting in which he fired gunshots that resulted in the deaths of Marcel Nelson, 42, and Kristen Fairchild, 42. A third person, Jayden Thorns, was shot in the head but survived.
“In 2024, former Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker stated that Blayne Newton should be terminated, calling him a risk to the public’s safety,” said Steve Young, a co-founder of the community activist group, Kansas City Law Enforcement Accountability Project or KC LEAP. “He has been described by officials as someone who does not deescalate but instead shoots and asks questions later.”
Young said during Tuesday’s meeting that he believes Newton has been on desk duty following the 2023 shooting and asked board members why he is still employed. Police officials would not say where Newton is currently assigned.
“Accountability delayed is accountability denied,” Young said. “Fire Blayne Newton.”
Clinton Martins, another resident, also spoke during Tuesday’s board meeting, noting that Newton had cost the Police Department millions of dollars in settlements for what he called “reckless and negligent policing.” The June 2023 shooting resulted in a $3.5 million settlement.
“He’s a symptom of a larger problem with policing,” Martins said. “It’s egregious to keep him employed, to keep our tax dollars flowing into his pocket. The precedent you are setting further erodes public trust.”
Martins said continuing to employ Newton is “reprehensible,” due to the video evidence of the June shooting.
“I implore this body to do the morally right thing and to terminate the employment of Blayne Newton,” he said.
None of the five members of the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners responded to public comments. The board adjourned the meeting and went into executive session.
Kansas City Council member Johnathan Duncan posted on social media over the weekend, imploring people to speak out about Newton during the meeting.
Duncan said that following the news of Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in Minneapolis, he felt it was important to remind citizens to advocate for police accountability in the city as well.
“I thought it's important to let people know that BOPC has failed to act and hold this officer accountable, this officer who has more kills in our city than many of my fellow combat veterans did overseas,” Duncan said.
“What is the example that Blayne Newton is setting for the new recruiting class that we just celebrated this week? We allow him to remain and collect more money, over $90,000 a year, more than most citizens make,” he said.
Duncan said he has not heard anything about Newton’s employment at the department from police board members.
“We have not received a closed or open report from the board of police commissioners since I’ve been on (the) City Council over two years,” Duncan said.
None of the board members responded to The Star’s request for comment.
Police Chief Stacey Graves has the power to recommend Newton’s termination, which the board can either accept or reject. Graves also did not respond to the public comments made during the meeting.
June 2023 shooting
Newton was driving near East 31st Street and Van Brunt Boulevard when he saw a person on the driver’s side of a truck point a firearm out of the window toward a white van and drive off.
Nelson, one of the shooting victims, who was in the passenger seat of the van, fired twice in self-defense before the truck drove away, according to the lawsuit filed by the family against the Police Department.
Dashboard camera video showed Newton, who had been behind the truck, pulled up to the passenger side of the white van, occupied by Nelson, Fairchild, Thorns and two juveniles, and immediately opened fire.
The van rolled through the intersection before coming to a stop. Newton fired 16 shots toward the van.
Johnson said her office applied a provision in Missouri law, where a law enforcement officer’s use of force is allowed while defending others in response to the passenger firing at the truck.
Johnson said that she shared with police officials that even though charges were not file against Newton, she is still concerned that he remained employed.
Newton, who joined the department in 2017, has killed one other person while on duty, Donnie Sanders, and has faced multiple excessive force allegations, including a sustained complaint and an advisory board recommendation that he be fired.
This story was originally published January 27, 2026 at 5:10 PM.
