On November 22, 2022, 20-year-old Leerick Kelley was tragically killed in a double homicide in Kansas City, Missouri. The incident unfolded in broad daylight around 1:00 p.m. near the intersection of 28th Street and Prospect Avenue in the Santa Fe neighborhood. Kelley was walking north on the east sidewalk of Prospect Avenue alongside another 20-year-old man, Montez Mack, when the shooting occurred.
Surveillance footage later reviewed by investigators reportedly showed the two men appearing startled before crouching down as gunfire erupted. One of the victims attempted to return fire with a handgun while fleeing west across the street, but both men were ultimately struck by bullets and were found unresponsive by responding officers just west of the intersection. They were pronounced dead at the scene by medical personnel.
Law enforcement officers quickly mobilized to the area, gathering witness statements and tracking the suspects who were seen fleeing the scene. Witnesses reported seeing the shooters running east and jumping fences through backyards along Lockridge Avenue. Officers established a perimeter and located one suspect running behind a residence on the 2900 block of Bales Avenue. A second suspect was subsequently found in the yard of the same residence, allegedly holding an AR-style rifle. Both individuals were taken into custody near the home. Crime scene investigators recovered approximately 30 shell casings, indicating a high volume of gunfire during the attack.
The investigation led to the arrest of two brothers, 20-year-old Marques Derrick Smith and 18-year-old Marquan D. Smith. Prosecutors charged both men with two counts of first-degree murder, three counts of armed criminal action, and one count of unlawful use of a weapon. During questioning, conflicting accounts emerged regarding the brothers' whereabouts; one brother claimed they had been at work and were dropped off by an uncle, but the uncle's statement reportedly contradicted this alibi. The other brother refused to speak with detectives. Following the charges, prosecutors requested that the brothers be held without bond as the legal proceedings commenced in Jackson County Court.
