On a tragic day in Kansas City, Missouri, 38-year-old Charles Anthony Blakey, a Black male, lost his life in a violent encounter. The incident unfolded on January 26, 2021, when police responded to a call about a vehicle that had crashed into a house in the 2800 block of Indiana Avenue. Inside the car, they discovered Blakey, who was deceased from a gunshot wound to the face.
The investigation into the homicide quickly led to a suspect.
The day after the shooting, Curtis Harris, then 53 years old, walked into the East Patrol police station and admitted to his involvement in Blakey's death, claiming it was in self-defense. Harris told detectives that he and Blakey had been driving together in a rented Dodge Journey after purchasing marijuana. An argument reportedly ensued over the remaining money from the drug transaction.
According to Harris's account to the police, the verbal dispute escalated into a physical struggle over a handgun. Harris claimed that Blakey threatened to kill him, and during the scuffle, he gained control of the weapon. He stated that as Blakey reached for a rifle, he fired approximately six shots. After the shooting, the vehicle crashed into the residence. Harris informed investigators that he discarded the handgun in a trash can on Independence Avenue. A subsequent search of Harris's home revealed boots with what appeared to be blood on them, as well as ammunition.
Following his confession, Curtis Harris was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action. He later pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action. In April 2022, a judge sentenced Harris to seven years in prison for involuntary manslaughter and a concurrent five-year sentence for the armed criminal action charge. He was given credit for the 426 days he had already served in the Jackson County Detention Center.
