Surveillance video, digital pictures, social media point Kansas City police to murder suspect

Surveillance video, digital pictures from a transportation project and social media helped Kansas City police identify a man suspected of murder, according to court documents released Monday.

The Jackson County prosecutor has charged 26-year-old Lakeith R. Courtney of Kansas City with first-degree murder and armed criminal action. Courtney has not been apprehended.

Courtney is accused of fatally shooting 32-year-old Kevin L. Durham of Kansas City about 11:35 a.m. Nov. 7 near 41st Street and Prospect Avenue.

Police found Durham’s body in a 1976 Pontiac Grand Le Mans. He had been shot multiple times.

According to court documents:

A witness told police that as Durham, who was alone, was parking his car, a man exited a van parked nearby, walked up to Durham’s car and started shooting. The shooter then got back into the driver’s side of the van and drove away.

Police questioned a subcontractor who was photographing intersections on Prospect Avenue for a pending public transportation project. The subcontractor had taken a picture that included a light blue Kia minivan near the intersection about a half-hour before the shooting, according to court documents.

The image captured the license plate of the minivan and a man wearing similar clothes as the shooter approaching the vehicle.

Police checked the surveillance videos at the nearby Short Stop convenience store. The footage showed a man similar to the description of the shooter entering the store twice — once about a half-hour before the shooting alone and a second time minutes before the shooting accompanied by another man, according to court documents.

Shortly after the shooting, surveillance video showed the minivan driving away.

Police traced the license plate to a person who leases the minivan. From there, police used social media accounts to determine the identity of the man who accompanied the alleged shooter into the store, according to court documents.

Police used their database to determine Courtney’s identity and then matched him to photographs and videos posted on social media. The rap videos showed Courtney and others performing in front of the Short Stop, according to court documents.

In February, a witness told police Courtney was the alleged shooter, according to court documents.

Anyone who knows his whereabouts is asked to call the Tips Hotline at 816-474-8477.

This story was originally published March 21, 2016 at 7:10 PM.