Man charged with shooting person whose vehicle he tried to tow: Kansas City police
A Kansas City tow truck driver faces multiple felony charges after police say he chased after and shot a man whose vehicle he’d been attempting to tow.
Prentiss D. Burks, 42, was charged Wednesday with one count each of unlawful use of a weapon and second-degree assault and two counts of armed criminal action after he seriously injured a fleeing driver, according to a press release from the Jackson County prosecutor’s office.
Officers responded to a shooting around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at 59th Street and Norfleet Road, according to the Kansas City Police Department.
The altercation began in Raytown when the driver of the vehicle Burks was trying to tow got into the driver’s seat and drove away. Burks followed in his tow truck, opening fire on the fleeing vehicle as they drove north on Norfleet Road, police said.
The chase and shooting continued as the vehicles traveled west on 59th Street, authorities said. The chase ended on 59th Street between Marion and Norfleet roads after Burks shot the other driver twice in the legs.
The victim told police he jumped in the vehicle and drove off when he noticed two tow trucks preparing to take it away. Police later found Burks in possession of a handgun that matched the shell casings found along the road where shots were fired.
Prosecutors are asking that Burks’ bond, set at $50,000 be increased to $100,000.
Burks did not have an attorney listed as of early Thursday afternoon.
The Star’s Glenn Rice contributed.
This story was originally published April 16, 2020 at 2:17 PM.
