JACKSON COUNTY —A jury on February 16, convicted a 28-year-old Kansas City man in connection with the April 5, 2019, fatal shooting of Deontae Campbell, 17, near 63rd and Paseo in Kansas City, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.
The jury convicted Tracy D. French, of Unlawful Use of a Weapon, an A Felony, Involuntary Manslaughter and two counts of Armed Criminal Action. French will be sentenced at a future hearing.
According to court records, police responded on April 5, 2019, to the area of 63rd and the Paseo regarding a shooting. They found a 17-year-old victim who was driving a vehicle and another 17-year-old victim in the passenger's seat of the vehicle.
The passenger said they had just left the Landing Mall area when the defendant began shooting at their car. The driver was hit and lost control of the vehicle. The passenger attempted to control it but the vehicle struck a building. Surveillance video showed the defendant getting out of a vehicle, raising his hand as if he was pointing a gun. Then the victims' vehicle is shown crashing into the building. The defendant's DNA was found on a cellphone recovered at the crime scene. In May, when police went to arrest the defendant, he attempted to flee on foot.
Assistant Jackson County Prosecutors Ben Cox and Caitlin Brock prosecuted the case on behalf of the state of Missouri.