Former bandmate enters plea in death of rap artist

A 30-year-old Kansas City, Kan., man pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter Friday in the shooting death of a rap artist known as Creepyface, Wyandotte County prosecutors said.

The defendant, Daniel Barlett, is the brother-in-law of the victim, 37-year-old Chad Ford, who was killed Sept. 24, 2012, near 47th Street and State Avenue in Kansas City, Kan.

Prosecutors said that on March 17, a jury convicted Barlett of criminal discharge of a firearm at an occupied vehicle but deadlocked on a first-degree murder charge.

Sentencing is scheduled for May 30.

Co-defendant Michael A. McKeehan, 28, who is Barlett’s cousin, pleaded guilty Jan. 31 to second-degree murder, criminal discharge of a firearm at an occupied vehicle and two counts of aggravated assault. He was accused of firing the fatal shot.

Online records indicate McKeehan was admitted to the state prison system this week.

Ford and Barlett, who rapped under the name Devil Boy, were former bandmates. Ford left that band, and the two were feuding before Ford died in what authorities have described as a rolling gunbattle between vehicles.

This story was originally published April 25, 2014 at 5:55 PM with the headline "Former bandmate enters plea in death of rap artist."