Kansas City man pleads guilty to second-degree murder

A Kansas City man pleaded guilty Thursday to second-degree murder.

Freddie Price, 34, had been charged in the June 4, 2014, shooting death of Shaunda Thomas, who had obtained a protection order against Price the previous month. Authorities had found the woman’s body on a playground outside an East Side apartment complex.

Jackson County Circuit Judge Charles McKenzie sentenced Price to 25 years on the murder charge. McKenzie also sentenced Price to three years on a charge of armed criminal action, one year for the violation of a protection order and four years for the unlawful use of a weapon.

All four sentences will run concurrently.

According to court documents, surveillance video obtained by investigators showed Thomas and a man leaving her vehicle early on June 4, 2014.

The man grabbed her from behind and walked her toward the playground. A short time later he was seen walking back to the vehicle and driving off. Investigators recovered several shell casings from the area, along with a handgun.

Thomas had sought the protection order after she reported that Price had struck her with a “spiked” bat and had punctured the tires on her vehicle, according to court documents.

This story was originally published January 7, 2016 at 5:18 PM with the headline "Kansas City man pleads guilty to second-degree murder."