A teenage feud turned deadly on the streets of Kansas City — and police say it all started with a breakup gone bad.
Ke’Montae Phillips, 19, is now facing second-degree murder and armed criminal action charges after a shocking March 10 shooting that left a young man dead as he tried to protect his own mother.
According to court documents, the violence had been building for days. Investigators say Phillips had been clashing with his sister’s ex-boyfriend after the relationship “went sour,” even confronting him about it roughly a week before the fatal encounter.
The tension exploded in broad daylight near 55th Street and Chestnut Avenue.
The victim had reportedly met up with his mother and appeared shaken, allegedly telling her something along the lines of “they are following me,” though she later told police she couldn’t fully understand what he meant.
Moments later, prosecutors say Phillips approached them on foot — and things escalated instantly.
“He said something like ‘you clutching?’” the affidavit claims, before Phillips allegedly pulled out a rifle-style weapon equipped with a red laser and opened fire.
What happened next was pure chaos.
Police say the victim tried to shield his mother as the gunfire erupted, helping her flee as bullets rang out. He was struck during the attack.
His mother desperately attempted CPR in the street while neighbors rushed outside, some trying to help, others stunned by what they were witnessing.
Investigators later recovered at least 35 shell casings from the scene — a sign of just how intense the shooting was.
Authorities say surveillance cameras and dashcams captured key moments, including a sedan believed to be linked to Phillips circling the area and appearing to follow the victim and his mother before the attack. License plate reader technology was also used to track the vehicle.
After his arrest, Phillips allegedly denied involvement — even when shown images of himself captured on video. At one point, investigators say he claimed the suspect “looked like his twin.”
But in a bizarre twist, police say when shown a photo of the victim, Phillips immediately recognized him — before detectives had even confirmed the identity.
Phillips is currently being held on a $250,000 cash-only bond. He’s scheduled to return to court for a preliminary hearing on April 15.
Meanwhile, a family is left grieving — and a relationship dispute has ended in unimaginable tragedy.