A verbal altercation that started inside a Kansas City liquor store ultimately led to the shooting death of 30-year-old Cornell A. Reed, a male resident of the city. The fatal encounter unfolded on the evening of December 22, 2018, near the intersection of 55th and Prospect Avenue. Reed was transported to a local hospital with a gunshot wound to the head and succumbed to his injuries the following day, December 23, 2018.
The events leading to the shooting began with a dispute involving
Reed and two brothers, Steven T. Kelow and Corey Richardson. Following the argument, the brothers were seen leaving the liquor store's parking lot in a maroon sedan. The vehicle circled the block and drove past Reed as he was walking. Witnesses reported seeing muzzle flashes from the rear driver's side passenger seat as the car passed by, and Reed fell to the ground. Investigators later found thirteen shell casings at the scene.
The police investigation quickly led to the identification of the suspects. The driver of the car informed detectives that she witnessed both Kelow and Richardson firing shots from the vehicle. During his interview with police, Richardson stated that his brother had shot Reed, but claimed their intention was only to frighten him. Both brothers were subsequently charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action.
In March 2020, Steven T. Kelow was sentenced for his role in Cornell Reed's death. A judge sentenced him to 22 years in prison for a conviction of second-degree murder, with a concurrent five-year sentence for armed criminal action. A co-defendant was still awaiting trial at the time of Kelow's sentencing.
