Kansas City man pleads guilty to murder in 2024 shooting during argument
A Kansas City man pleaded guilty last week to the 2024 fatal shooting of 23-year-old Ja’Carious McKissic, according to court documents.
Justyn T. Reedus, 35, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in McKissic’s death on Thursday. As part of a plea agreement, two counts of armed criminal action and one count of unlawful use of a weapon are to be dismissed after sentencing, according to court documents.
According to the plea agreement, prosecutors are asking for a 20-year prison sentence. Sentencing was set for Jan. 6. The plea came just days before Reedus was scheduled to stand trial. Jury selection was set to begin on Monday.
According to court documents, the shooting occurred about 11:20 p.m. May 31, 2024, in the 600 block of East 110th Terrace in Kansas City’s Red Bridge North neighborhood.
Arriving officers found McKissic, who had been shot, in the front yard of a home. He was taken to a hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
Witnesses told detectives that Reedus and McKissic had been arguing inside the house. At one point, McKissic tried to leave, and Reedus followed him out onto the front porch. Reedus then pulled out a gun and shot McKissic.
Doorbell surveillance video also showed Reedus and McKissic arguing on the front porch. Then Reedus pulled a handgun from his pants, shoved McKissic off the porch and fired at him multiple times, knocking him to the ground, according to the court documents.
