For Immediate Release
Feb. 23, 2023

A Jackson County judge on Thursday sentenced a 29-year-old woman to 15 years in prison for the fatal shooting in Febtuary 2021 of Zachary Jewell in Blue Summit, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced today.

Sahara Devera, dob: 8/6/1993, pleaded guilty on Thrusday to Voluntary Manslaughter, a Class B felony, punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Prosecutors requested the judge sentence the defendant to 15 years and the defense asked for a sentence up to 8 years. The judge sentenced the defendant to 15 years.

According to court records, family members of the victim told Jackson County Sheriff's deputies that they were at Inner City Fire on Blue Ridge Boulevard in Kansas City when they heard someone banging on the door. They saw the defendant was outside. She screamed, "I shot him. I shot him." Deputies found the victim, Zachary Jewell, outside Inner City Fire. Emergency personnel attempted to resuscitate the victim. He has been shot. He was pronounced deceased later at a hospital. Witnesses and video surveillance confirmed the shooting took place near the 1800 block of Tilden in Blue Summit. A witness stated a man and woman were arguing before a gunshot was fired. Video surveillance showed the victim and defendant leaving a residence when the defendant can be heard saying "Be over it..." and gunshot rings out. She then tells victim to get in the truck and it leaves. The defendant told sheriff's deputies that she shot him because she believed he was going to shoot her. 

 For more information, contact:

Michael Mansur

Director of Communication
Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office
Jean Peters Baker, Prosecutor
Work : (816) 881-3812
Mobile : (816) 674-3954
www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com
mmansur@jacksongov.org