Man sentenced to life in prison in shooting death of 68-year-old in KC driveway
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Judge sentenced D’Aires Gadson to life for 2024 murder of William Bradford.
- Surveillance video showed Gadson shooting Bradford after an argument.
- Jury found Gadson guilty of second-degree murder and unlawful firearm possession.
A Jackson County judge on Tuesday sentenced a 29-year-old man to life in prison in the fatal shooting of a 68-year-old man in Kansas City’s North Town Fork Creek neighborhood last year, court records show.
Judge Bryan Round also sentenced D’Aires Gadson to 10 years in prison for unlawful possession of a firearm, which is to run concurrent with his life sentence.
A Jackson County jury in March found Gadson guilty of second-degree murder and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon in the death of William Bradford on Oct. 3, 2024.
A notice of appeal was filed on Gadson’s behalf with the Western District of the Missouri Court of Appeals, court records show.
Gadson was accused of shooting Bradford after the two argued outside of Bradford’s home in the 5400 block of College Avenue, according to court documents.
Officers responding to the shooting found Bradford in the middle of the street with gunshot wounds. He died at the scene.
Surveillance video captured by a camera on Bradford’s front door showed that as Bradford ran to his pickup truck — a burgundy and tan Ford F-150 — Gadson fired several shots from a handgun at him.
Gadson’s gun jammed, and Bradford yelled for witnesses to call the police. Gadson then shot Bradford in the back, according to court documents.
Witnesses reported that Gadson then went through Bradford’s pocket before stealing his F-150 and driving away.
Gadson allegedly later told police that Bradford had fired three shots at him and that he searched Bradford to see if he was still armed, according to court documents.
Police indicated that Gadson and Bradford were acquainted. Police had been to Bradford’s home on Aug. 8, 2024, after Gadson’s brother allegedly tried to rob Bradford after he reportedly sold a faulty car and would not return the money.
Police returned on Aug. 30, 2024, after Gadson allegedly went to Bradford’s home, knocked on his door and harassed him for money for the car he sold his brother. Bradford told police that Gadson had a rifle sticking out of his backpack, according to court documents.
Both incidents were captured on surveillance camera at Bradford’s home.
Gadson’s brother was incarcerated at the time of Bradford’s death and was not considered a suspect in the homicide, according to court documents.
Gadson had previously been incarcerated after pleading guilty to charges of robbery and armed criminal action in 2017, according to court records.
