Attorneys representing family of Saveion McConnell release body cam footage of fatal shooting
Kansas City experts weigh in on Johnson County, Missouri's decision that the shooting was reasonable after viewing the video
By: Addi Weakley, Isabella Ledonne - last updated 11:38 PM, Oct 05, 2026
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The attorneys representing the family of Saveion McConnell, the 19-year-old fatally shot five months ago by a Lafayette County deputy, have released parts of body camera video from the incident.
National civil rights lawyer Benjamin L. Crump has joined the team at Romanucci & Blandin LLC to represent Saveion's parents.
Two clips of body-worn camera footage from the shooting were released on YouTube. In the first clip, an Odessa police officer stands outside his patrol vehicle on the phone. He is captured saying, “We’re just sitting here, staring at a woodline. Trying to find a Black kid at night. That’s always fun.” The officer also said the individual sounded “interesting” based on what his friends said about him.
In the second clip, McConnell and a friend are ordered by the officer and a Lafayette County deputy to back up and put their hands on their head. McConnell then runs off.
In the news release showing the body camera footage, the legal team said the family is “profoundly disappointed” with Johnson County Prosecuting Attorney Robert Russell’s decision not to charge the deputy.
Russell issued a statement Monday explaining his decision. "My sympathies go out to the family of Saveion McConnell. This is not a new video but excerpts from the entire body camera video from the Odessa officer. While he makes insensitive statements, those are not attributed to the officer involved in the shooting," Russell said. "In reviewing the whole video and not solely excerpts, I still stand by my decision based on the whole of the evidence not to file charges. Self-defense is a special defense under Missouri law, and the state must disprove by proof beyond a reasonable doubt that a person did not act in self-defense. The evidence presented to my office is insufficient to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the officer did not act in self-defense."
What led up to the shooting
The incident occurred April 30 into the early hours of May 1. McConnell and some friends drove from Lee’s Summit to a party in Warrensburg. According to a court document, the group had an AR-style rifle in the car on the way to Warrensburg, where McConnell acquired a Glock pistol before leaving the party.Near the intersection of Highway 50 and Highway 131, the pistol discharged and shot the juvenile female driver in the back.
“No physical evidence contradicted the belief of the juvenile that she was shot by someone in the rear seats,” a court document stated. When deputies responded, the driver said she was shot by McConnell, who fled the scene. During a search of the vehicle, both the AR-style rifle and a Glock were located.
Stories varied among passengers about what happened. While the girl said McConnell shot her, another passenger said they were hit by a drive-by. However, no evidence supported the drive-by version of events, per a court document. Another passenger said the two in the back were passing the gun when it discharged.
Additional law enforcement officers were called to the scene to assist. While a family member was taking some of the passengers home, they recognized McConnell walking on the highway. Deputies soon received a call about two males on the highway, identified as McConnell and one of his friends.
Officers pulled up and instructed the two to walk backwards with their hands up, but McConnell took off running again. In an attempt to stop him, a deputy placed his vehicle between McConnell and the car of the passengers, making contact with McConnell. He was able to get up, and he continued running toward a fence. The deputy caught up and ordered McConnell to put his hands up. He lifted his shirt, which a court document states was captured on the body-worn camera, and the deputy fired his duty weapon.
McConnell died of his injuries suffered in the shooting.
In the investigation after the incident, the deputy said he believed McConnell was reaching for a gun. However, Crump and the other attorneys defending Saveion's parents maintain the deputy’s use of force started with the patrol vehicle. “Saveion was unarmed—that is undisputed. [The deputy] told investigators that a witness had said Saveion 'could be armed' with a Glock pistol, but the only handgun described in the memo was found by deputies inside the car where the pistol discharged, not on Saveion," the news release stated. The legal team says its investigation and pursuit of “accountability for Saveion’s death” remain ongoing.
Expert insight on the body camera video
McConnell's attorneys only publicly released about two minutes of the entire incident that happened in May. It's unclear how long the full body camera footage is. Civil rights and defense attorney John Picerno of JP Law handles many use-of-force cases. He reviewed the body camera video Monday night.
"It's just a tragic, tragic case," Picerno said. "It looks like the individual is reaching for something on his right hip or back area just prior to the officer shooting. Again, this comes after all of the commands telling him to stop and don't move."
It was later revealed in the investigation that McConnell was unarmed. In a release on Monday, his family's attorneys argue McConnell was attempting to pull up his pants before he was shot.
"I couldn't tell what he was doing with his right arm and hand at that time from the video footage that I looked at," Picerno said.
Picerno explained officers have seconds to make a crucial call, basing their decision on McConnell initially running, not complying with orders, and then reaching toward his waist.
"If it's a close call, officers are going to get the benefit of the doubt in terms of whether their actions were reasonable or not," Picerno said. "Number one, obey everything the officer tells you to do. Number two, do not move. Do not move your hands. Do not give the officer the chance to make a mistaken belief that you are somehow going for a firearm. Don't give them that opportunity."
McConnell family on body camera footage
McConnell's family stated in a release they strongly disagree with the Johnson County, Missouri, Prosecuting Attorney's decision to not pursue criminal charges. The family was not available for an interview Monday night, but Saveion's uncle, Phillip Washington, spoke with KSHB 41 News over the phone. "We see that the DA didn't press charges, but anyone with a decent heart would see something is wrong here," Washington said. Saveion's uncle went on to explain that the family is still dealing with grief and demanding justice and accountability.