In the early morning hours of September 8, 2018, the vibrant sounds of Kansas City's historic 18th and Vine District were tragically pierced by the sound of gunfire. When the echo of the shots faded, 23-year-old Gary Starr lay dead at the northwest corner of 18th Street and Highland Avenue. Off-duty police officers working in the district discovered his body shortly before 1 a.m.
Starr, a graduate of Center High School and Missouri Western State University with a degree in Athletic Training, was a father and was remembered for being full of life.
The investigation into the shooting quickly painted a picture of a prior conflict leading to the fatal encounter. Witnesses told police that Gary Starr was waiting in line to enter the Juke House, a local club, when he was approached by four men. Among them was Brandon D. Jones, a man with whom Starr had been involved in a fight earlier that year. Surveillance footage from the area captured the moments when Jones approached Starr in the line and opened fire before fleeing the scene. The Kansas City Police Department identified Jones through city traffic cameras and vehicles registered in his name that were present at the time of the shooting.
A warrant was issued for the arrest of Brandon D. Jones, who was charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in connection with Gary Starr's death. Jones, who was 24 at the time, was subsequently arrested and held on a $250,000 cash bond. In August 2019, in a plea agreement, Jones pleaded guilty to the reduced charges of second-degree murder and armed criminal action. He was sentenced to life in prison for the murder charge and a concurrent 30-year sentence for the armed criminal action charge, bringing a measure of justice to the family of Gary Starr.
