In the early morning hours of August 25, 2018, the life of 17-year-old Raphael Butler-Grimmett was tragically cut short on a street in Kansas City, Missouri. A resident of Missouri, the young man was expecting his first child and worked as a Cubmaster Ambassador for the Boy Scouts of America. He was known to be a good student who also worked for the Full Employment Council to secure more employment to support his growing family.
The fatal incident reportedly began as a fistfight. An argument had earlier taken place between a man named Devon Nolan and Raphael's mother concerning a debit card. This dispute escalated to a physical altercation between Nolan and Raphael outside a home in the 6800 block of Cleveland Avenue. During this fight, another man, identified as 30-year-old Brandon E. Neal, allegedly produced a handgun. Witnesses stated that Neal chased Raphael and shot him multiple times. His mother and pregnant girlfriend were reported to be witnesses to the shooting.
Around 5 a.m., patrolling Kansas City police officers heard the sound of gunfire and saw a vehicle speeding away from the scene. They pursued the Dodge Charger into Kansas, where it eventually crashed at Interstate 35 and Seventh Street. The driver of the vehicle, Devon Nolan, was taken into custody. Nolan later informed police that he had been fighting with Raphael when he heard gunshots and that Neal was the only person at the scene with a gun. He stated that after the shooting, he drove away with Neal and dropped him off at some point before his own arrest. Emergency medical personnel who arrived at the scene on Cleveland Avenue found Raphael suffering from gunshot wounds and attempted life-saving measures, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Following an investigation, Brandon E. Neal was charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in the shooting death of Raphael Butler-Grimmett. A cash bond of $250,000 was set for Neal.
