Lee’s Summit man faces first-degree murder charges in Kansas City, North shooting
Clay County prosecutors have charged an 18-year-old man with first-degree murder in the shooting death of another man whose body was found inside of a house in Kansas City, North, according to court documents.
Davonte K. Cornelius of Lee’s Summit also faces two counts of armed criminal action and one count of unlawful use of a weapon in the May 8 killing of Tyler Genson, 22.
Bond was set at $1 million. Cornelius is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday, according to court records.
Police were called to a reported shooting just before 10 that evening in the 5300 block of NE 57th Street. Arriving officers found Genson dead from a gunshot wound.
At least one person approached the house from the outside and fired shots into it, police said at the time.
Several persons inside the house told investigators they were watching “Star Wars” when gunfire came through the back door. Bullets struck Genson, who was sitting in a chair in the living room. Another person had a minor injury, but refused treatment, police said.
According to court records, the shooting appeared to stem from an ongoing feud between Cornelius and others connected to the residence.
After the shooting, crime scene investigators found more than a dozen 40-caliber shell casings in the back yard.
On Wednesday, Cornelius turned himself in at police headquarters. Cornelius admitted to shooting into the residence using a Glock 22-caliber handgun but said he did not know anyone was inside at the time, prosecutors allege.
Cornelius said in the days after the shooting, he threw the firearm into a body of water.
Gun violence will be the subject of a new, statewide journalism project The Star is undertaking in Missouri this year in partnership with the national service program Report for America. As part of this project, The Star will seek the community’s help. To contribute, visit Report for America online at reportforamerica.org.
