Leavenworth man sentenced in 2023 fatal shooting of cousin in Kansas City
A Leavenworth man accused of fatally shooting his cousin at a home in Kansas City’s Oak Park neighborhood last year was sentenced to ten years in prison Friday.
Eric Morrow, 44, entered an Alford plea on two counts, including first-degree involuntary manslaughter and unlawful use of a weapon, Friday in Jackson County Circuit Court before Judge Jerri Zhang handed down the sentence. In an Alford plea, a defendant does not admit guilt, but acknowledges that prosecutors have enough evidence for a conviction if the case went to trial.
Morrow’s defense attorney, David Wiegert, declined to comment.
Morrow was accused of shooting Matthew White, 31, who court documents identify as his cousin, on Sept. 18, 2023, at the residence in the 3900 block of South Benton Avenue. Morrow was arrested at the site of the shooting, and later told staff at a hospital that he had smoked the street drug PCP earlier in the day.
White was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police determined there had been a confrontation between the two men, according to court documents.
One witness reported hearing a gunshot and finding Morrow armed with a gun and arguing with White outside his bedroom. As the witness attempted to wrestle the gun away from Morrow, he said he heard another gunshot and saw White fall to the ground.
Another witness reported there was a disagreement in the house set off by food Morrow had gotten for himself, which led to an argument between Morrow and White. On the day of the shooting, that witness said he heard a gunshot and found White sliding backward down some steps. He then said he helped another person restrain Morrow, and reported Morrow was armed with three guns.
