In what began as a transaction initiated through social media, a Kansas City man's life was tragically cut short in a violent encounter. Charles Bradham, a 54-year-old male, was fatally shot on June 1, 2022, during what authorities have described as an attempted robbery. The incident unfolded at approximately 4:00 p.m. in the 4500 block of Colonial Terrace. Bradham had been in contact with a man on Facebook throughout the day regarding the purchase of a car.
The seller arrived at Bradham's apartment, where they shared a beer before the seller claimed the vehicle had broken down.
The situation took a grim turn when Bradham, intending to provide the man with gas money, pulled out his wallet. It was at this moment that the seller produced a handgun and demanded the money. The assailant then opened fire, shooting a female victim present at the scene before turning the gun on Bradham. Bradham was pronounced dead at the location, while the female victim sustained three gunshot wounds and was transported to a local hospital in stable condition. A witness working nearby heard the gunshots and rushed to provide first aid to the victims while their coworker called for emergency services.
The investigation into the homicide led police to 28-year-old Andrew Young. The surviving victim, while unable to be 100% certain, identified Young from a photo lineup as looking familiar. Further investigation revealed text messages and phone calls between Bradham and Young. A crucial piece of evidence was DNA recovered from a beer bottle left at the scene, which was a match to Young. Despite his initial denial of ever being at the apartment complex, the evidence led to his arrest.
Andrew Young was subsequently charged with second-degree murder, first-degree assault, attempted robbery, and three counts of armed criminal action, as well as unlawful possession of a firearm. The Jackson County Prosecutor's Office filed the charges against him, bringing a measure of progress in a case that began with a seemingly innocuous online interaction and ended in a senseless act of violence.
