Kevin Andre Thomas, a 45-year-old male, died on June 30, 2018, following a fatal shooting in Kansas City, Missouri. The incident occurred outside the Yum Yum Bar & Grill, located near 24th Street and Van Brunt Boulevard. Thomas was inside his vehicle when he was shot by two security guards. He was transported to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
The events leading to the shooting began with a disturbance in the parking lot. Two security guards, Christopher L.
Jones and Markell Pinkins, who were employed by Force One Security and Consulting, responded to a car accident. According to reports, they approached Thomas's vehicle with their guns drawn and instructed him to turn off the car. A witness stated that Thomas's car moved forward about a foot, at which point the guards opened fire. Jones fired through the passenger side of the windshield, while Pinkins shot through the driver's side window. A third security guard, Leon Doniphan, was also present at the scene.
Following an investigation by the Kansas City Police Department, all three security guards were arrested and faced charges. Christopher L. Jones was charged with second-degree murder, armed criminal action, and tampering with physical evidence. Markell Pinkins was charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action. Leon Doniphan was charged with one count of tampering with physical evidence for allegedly hiding Jones's weapon after the shooting.
In December 2019, Christopher L. Jones was convicted of second-degree murder, armed criminal action, and misdemeanor evidence tampering. In August 2020, a Jackson County judge found Markell Pinkins guilty of second-degree murder. Pinkins was later sentenced to thirteen years in prison. The security company, Force One Security and Consulting, had its license to operate in Kansas City revoked in September 2018.
