Man who claimed self-defense in shooting admits trafficking 52 guns from KC pawn shop
A former Kansas City-area man pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court to drug trafficking and illegally possessing more than 50 firearms he stole from a Kansas City pawn shop, according to prosecutors.
Kameron Bynum, 24, of Wilson, North Carolina, broke into Smart Pawn in the 6300 block of Troost Avenue through the roof in May 2017. He took 52 handguns valued at more than $19,000, prosecutors in the Western District of Missouri said.
A bloodstain found on a glove used during the burglary was linked to Bynum through DNA analysis, prosecutors said. Detectives used video surveillance during the investigation. Bynum was also linked to a vehicle used in the burglary.
The vehicle was tied to a homicide Aug. 6, 2016, in the 2900 block of East 35th Street in Kansas City, where a phone that belonged to Bynum was found, police said. Bynum later told detectives he was trying to buy Xanax from the person who died.
That person pulled out a gun and attempted to rob Bynum, he told police. Bynum said he shot the person in self-defense, an account another witness backed, prosecutors said.
Nearly two weeks after the burglary, Bynum was arrested in North Carolina. He was in possession of about 13 grams of marijuana and more than $900, prosecutors said. He was charged the next month in federal court.
At Bynum’s North Carolina apartment, officers found more than 400 Xanax tablets, marijuana and a handgun with an extended magazine that was stolen from the Kansas City pawn shop, according to prosecutors.
It will be recommended Bynum be sentenced to more than 16 years in federal prison.
