Driver in Kansas City crash that killed rugby player sentenced to 20 years in prison
The driver involved in a crash that killed a Lee’s Summit rugby player four years ago wassentenced to prison on a federal gun charge Wednesday, according to a release from the U.S. District Attorney’s Office in Kansas City.
A federal judge sentenced Keith L. Carnes, 31, to 20 years in prison without parole, according to the district attorney’s office.
A jury found Carnes guilty in November of one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and two counts of being an unlawful user of a controlled substance while being in possession of a firearm.
Gunfight leads to fatal crash
The charges stem from a gunfight on Aug. 30, 2016, near East 36th Street and Wabash Avenue. During the exchange of gunfire, Carnes’ handgun jammed and he was shot numerous times.
Carnes fled the area at speeds that exceeded 100 mph. At East 63rd Street and Prospect Avenue, Carnes, who was high on drugs, allegedly ran a red light and collided with a black pickup truck.
The pickup’s driver, 24-year-old Patrick Mercer, was killed in the crash.
Video evidence at trial showed a 2008 Pontiac G6 driven by Carnes crash into the pickup truck, sending it into a Nissan Quest and a pole. The Pontiac had multiple bullet holes in the driver’s side doors.
The bloodied Carnes said to arriving officers, “I have been shot, I know I have been shot.”
Officers broke a window to get to Carnes and render medical assistance. He was taken to a hospital for treatment. Hospital lab reports confirmed that Carnes had marijuana, cocaine and PCP in his system, according to the release.
Inside the car, officers found a bag of marijuana and a .380-caliber semi-automatic handgun with blood on it.
The victim of the shooting near Wabash identified Carnes in a photo lineup as the shooter who fired four shots at him. Officers also recovered shell casings from the shooting scene that matched the firearm found in Carnes’ car.
Prior felony conviction
Carnes has a prior felony conviction for second-degree assault. Federal law makes it illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony or who is an unlawful user of a controlled substance to be in possession of a firearm or ammunition.
The Jackson County Prosecutor charged Carnes with one count of involuntary manslaughter in Mercer’s death. That case is pending.
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 and sponsored in part by Missouri Foundation for Health. As part of this project, The Star will seek the community’s help.
To contribute, visit Report for America online at reportforamerica.org.
This story was originally published September 30, 2020 at 4:03 PM.
