Kansas City man sentenced to 19 years in prison in 2015 shooting death

A Kansas City man was sentenced Monday to 19 years in prison after pleading guilty to the 2015 shooting death of another man following a dispute.

Marqiveon D. Washington, 18, was initially charged with first-degree murder, unlawful use of a weapon and armed criminal action in connection with the fatal shooting of Justin Williams, 22, of Kansas City.

Washington reached a plea agreement with prosecutors and pleaded guilty moments before the criminal trial was scheduled to begin on Monday. The shooting occurred Sept. 18, 2015, in the 6600 block of Monroe Avenue.

Jackson County prosecutors said at the time of the shooting witnesses reported seeing a silver Neon run into a parked car on Monroe. Two men got out and fought. At one point, Williams started to run away. The other man, who was wearing an orange hooded sweatshirt, pulled a gun and fired four or five shots at the fleeing man.

Police found Williams on the pavement. He later died at a hospital.

Officers arrested Washington after a witness saw him toss a gun and an orange hooded sweatshirt into some bushes behind a Monroe Avenue home and walk away. That witness watched Washington until officers stopped him. Police recovered the handgun and sweatshirt. They matched shell casings from the scene to the gun.

When questioned by investigators, Washington first said the gun had belonged to Williams but then said it was his.

On Monday, Washington wiped tears from his eyes as Circuit Judge Joel P. Fahnestock sentenced him to 19 years on the murder and three years on the armed criminal action charge. Fahnestock then ordered the prison sentences run simultaneously.

This story was originally published December 12, 2016 at 11:49 AM with the headline "Kansas City man sentenced to 19 years in prison in 2015 shooting death."