Man charged after pregnant mother of five was run over, shot in KC homicide
A Blue Springs man accused of running over a pregnant woman before allegedly fatally shooting her several times has been charged by the Jackson County prosecutor’s office for her Wednesday homicide.
Arel Dawkins has been charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in the killing of the woman, identified by Kansas City police as Braisen Cain, 42.
A fundraiser for Cain has been started and has raised nearly $11,000 of its $26,000 goal. Funds will be used for Cain’s funeral and to support her five children, according to the fundraiser.
“Braisen was one of the most loving, kind and caring individuals you could ever meet,” the fundraiser states. “She was an amazing mother who always put her boys first and will be deeply missed by her family, her work community and all who knew her.”
On Wednesday at approximately 7:50 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 4000 block of Morrell on a shooting call, according to police spokesperson Cpt. Jake Becchina. Officers were directed to Cain, who was unresponsive with multiple gunshot wounds in front of a home and declared dead at the scene.
Police found 21 .40 caliber shell casings and an empty hand gun magazine at the scene, according to court records. Eleven shell casings were located in the front yard of the home.
A witness, who said she spoke to Cain regularly, told police she allegedly heard gunshots and saw Dawkins shoot Cain, then reload his gun and shoot more. Dawkins got into his black Ford F-150 and fled the scene.
Cain recently broke up with Dawkins and was pregnant with his child, court records say. The witness reportedly identified Dawkins in a photo lineup.
Another witness also allegedly saw the shooting, but only had a description of Dawkins and his vehicle.
A witness who knew Dawkins from high school and received haircuts from him, reportedly told investigators he recorded conversations where Dawkins allegedly confessed to striking Cain with his vehicle and shooting her, records say.
A third witness supplied police with Google Nest surveillance video showing the incident in a 33-second clip. The footage allegedly shows Dawkins running over Cain in a yard with his vehicle. Dawkins then allegedly gets out of the vehicle and shoots Cain at close range several times as she is lying in the grass.
The video allegedly shows Dawkins walking toward the street, and firing at Cain from the street. He allegedly then reloaded his weapon and walked back toward Cain to shoot again before driving off in his vehicle.
Dawkins’s family members made several 911 calls claiming Dawkins confessed to the alleged crimes and was threatening to die by suicide. Because of the suicidal statements, police contacted Dawkins’s cellphone carrier, T-Mobile, for cellphone pings. Cellphone data allegedly showed Dawkins near the scene just before the homicide.
Missouri Highway Patrol received that information and apprehended Dawkins in Springfield, Missouri, without incident. Dawkins, who was taken to Green County Jail, declined to speak with detectives, court records show.
