A 26-year-old Kansas City man has been charged with the fatal shooting Nov. 7, 2015, of Kevin Durham whose body was found before noon in his parked car near 41st and Prospect Avenue, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced today.
Lakeith R. Courtney, dob: 7/22/1989, faces Murder in the 1st Degree and Armed Criminal Action.*
According to court records, witnesses told police that the victim pulled up to park on 41st Street about 11:30 a.m. on Nov. 7, 2015, when a man exited a van, walked toward the victim’s vehicle and began firing numerous shots with a handgun. Surveillance video from a nearby store captured images of a man who looked like the description of the shooter offered by witnesses. Other digital images taken minutes before the shooting for a public transportation project showed a light blue Kia minivan parked on 41st Street, and its license plate. A search of social media found images of the defendant that appeared consistent with the man on the surveillance video and in the digital images taken about the time of the shooting. Police found evidence showing the van was associated with the defendant and another witness in February identified the defendant as the shooter.
Prosecutors have requested a bond of $500,000.
*Charges are only accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until the defendant is either found guilty or has pleaded.