In a tragic turn of events on June 8, 2020, 21-year-old Trinton Phillips was shot and killed in the driver's seat of his car in the parking lot of a Price Chopper grocery store in Kansas City, Missouri. The incident, which occurred shortly before 5:30 p.m. at 9717 N. Ash Ave., was the result of a prearranged marijuana deal that ended in a fatal robbery attempt.
Phillips was a white male.
Phillips had arranged the sale via the social media application Snapchat and was accompanied by his girlfriend at the time of the shooting. A dark-colored sedan carrying five individuals parked next to Phillips' Kia Spectra. A man, later identified as 20-year-old Blade E. Elliott, exited the sedan and entered the backseat of Phillips' car. Soon after, Elliott reached for a bag of marijuana that was near Phillips. When Phillips' girlfriend tried to intervene, Elliott fired three to four shots, striking and killing Phillips. The suspects then fled the scene.
Kansas City police responded to the shooting and found Phillips deceased in his vehicle. Inside the car, investigators discovered 9mm shell casings, a significant amount of a green leafy substance, and cash. Detectives utilized surveillance footage from nearby businesses and examined Phillips' cellphone. The last Snapchat message on his phone was from a user named 'itstheblade,' which, along with a tip, led investigators to Blade Elliott.
Police located and arrested Elliott. A search of his apartment revealed a Glock 45 handgun which ballistic tests confirmed was the weapon used to kill Phillips. Though Elliott denied his involvement, he was charged with second-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action, and attempted robbery. In August 2022, a Clay County jury found Blade Elliott guilty on all counts. He was subsequently sentenced to a total of 67 years in prison for his role in the death of Trinton Phillips.
