KC man, convicted in 2018 killing, sentenced to prison. His brother awaits trial
One of two Kansas City men charged in a 2018 fatal shooting on 55th Street and Prospect Avenue has been convicted of murder and sentenced to prison, the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office announced in a news release.
On Friday, Steven T. Kelow, 32, was ordered to serve 22 years in prison after pleading guilty in January to charges of second-degree murder and armed criminal action. The charges were filed in Jackson County Circuit Court in connection to the shooting death of 30-year-old Cornell A. Reed.
Kelow’s brother is a co-defendant in the case. The brother, Corey Richardson, is charged with second-degree murder, unlawful use of a weapon and two counts of armed criminal action. Richardson, 29, is scheduled to stand trial on April 20 in Jackson County, according to online court records.
Kansas City police were called about 6:50 p.m. on Dec. 22, 2018, to the area of 55th Street and Prospect Avenue for a shooting. Police officers found Reed, who had a gunshot wound to the head. The victim died the next day at a hospital.
According to court records, an argument between the victim and the suspects at the Party Shop liquor store on Prospect Avenue preceded the shooting.
A witness told police she left the store in a car with Kelow and Richardson after the argument. As they drove past the victim, the witness heard gunfire and saw the two men allegedly shooting out of the vehicle.
A loaded handgun and a box of ammunition were found during a search of the car.
Kelow denied being involved in the shooting during an interview with police in 2018.
In a separate interview, Richardson denied firing shots and told police his brother had fired a gun from the back seat of the car in an attempt to scare the victim.
This story was originally published March 6, 2020 at 6:47 PM.
