Marcell T. Nelson, a 42-year-old man, was fatally shot in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 9, 2023. The incident occurred around 9 p.m. at the intersection of 31st Street and Van Brunt Boulevard. Nelson was a father of five and was known as the sole breadwinner for his family. On the day of the shooting, he had picked up his nephew from swimming, and they were on their way to McDonald's.
Nelson was the passenger in a white van driven by his friend, 42-year-old Kristen Fairchild, when the encounter took place. According to dash cam footage, an individual in a pickup truck pointed a firearm at the van. In what is described in a subsequent lawsuit as an act of self-defense, Nelson fired twice before the truck drove away. Shortly after, Kansas City police officer Blayne Newton pulled up beside the van and opened fire. Nelson was not pointing or firing a weapon when the officer began shooting. A total of 16 shots were reportedly fired by the officer. Nelson was dragged from the van and died before he could be transported to a hospital. Fairchild was taken to a hospital where she later died from her injuries. Nelson's nephew, who was also in the van, was shot in the head but survived.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol was tasked with investigating the officer-involved shooting. In October 2023, the case was handed over to the Jackson County Prosecutor's Office for review, but as of August 2024, no charging decision had been announced. The families of Nelson and Fairchild, along with Nelson's surviving nephew, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Officer Blayne Newton. The lawsuit was settled in September 2025 for $3.5 million. The plaintiffs expressed that the settlement did not compensate for their loss and believe the officer, who had previously been involved in another fatal incident, should no longer be in law enforcement.
