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A Jackson County grand jury has indicted a Kansas City man this week in connection with a fatal 2024 hit-and-run crash in Kansas City, court records show.

Although prosecutors declined to file charges against Burnette, the fatal encounter was unnecessary, according to John Picerno, an attorney representing Williams’ family in the lawsuit filed in late March in Jackson County Court. “We believe he unjustly took Kenneth’s life, which represents a profound breach of the public trust placed in law-enforcement officers,” Picerno wrote me in a text message. “His actions were reckless, unreasonable, and unjustified, and no person who engages in such conduct can safely or responsibly serve in any law enforcement capacity.”

“Mrs. Wilson has lost her son, people have lost loved ones,” Picerno said. “It’s always a heartbreaking thing for any parent to go through to lose your child.”

"We believe the shooting was not justified since no one was in imminent danger, which is evidenced by the other officer's decision not to fire,” Defense Attorney John Picerno, who is representing Ms. Wilson in the lawsuit, said in a statement to KSHB 41 News.

"Nobody taught them to do the things that they're doing out there on the street. They're running, recklessly out there on the street of their own volition," Picerno said. It's incumbent upon the leaders in any police department in the United States of America to rein these guys back in."

“We certainly don’t need reckless law enforcement officers patrolling our streets,” Picerno said. “The decision to shoot should be the last alternative for an officer. The overwhelming majority of officers perform admirably under difficult circumstances. “An officer with his propensity for violence should never be allowed in the profession. I know my clients will be relieved.”

Three factors played out in his mind that could’ve changed the entire night, Picerno said. Picerno said he doesn’t believe that Newton was ever in danger or that Nelson even knew he was there. The second factor Picerno mentioned was that Nelson was acting in self-defense and the third being Newton never activated his lights or sirens

John Picerno, an attorney who represented the victims, said he and his clients met with prosecutors Wednesday afternoon and was told about their decision not to file criminal charges. “My clients are obviously very disappointed that he’s not going to be charged,” Picerno said. “They simply cannot believe that he’s still employed by KCPD based upon the amounts of incidents that he’s been involved in.” In September, the Police Department agreed to pay $3.5 million to settle a civil lawsuit in the shooting deaths before the case went to trial.

Many of those shooters were repeat offenders such as Blayne Newton, a notorious bad actor who has at least three on-duty deaths on his resume. In addition, he has faced credible accusations of using excessive force on women. Newton’s untoward acts have cost taxpayers millions of dollars in settlements.

John Picerno, the families’ attorney, told The Star that the plaintiffs in the case were deeply disturbed to learn that Newton had previously taken another life. “They all believe he should no longer serve in law enforcement,” Picerno told Star reporter Caroline Zimmerman. “I am in agreement with my clients.”