New details revealed in lawsuit involving fatal triple shooting at the hands of a KCPD officer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – New details have been released in a lawsuit filed in the triple shooting death of two people and a seriously injured one at the hands of a Kansas City police officer.

The lawsuit, filed Friday, June 28, by the families of Kristen Fairchild and Marcel Nelson, as well as Jaden Thorns, claims that all three are victims of the triple shooting death of Kansas City, Missouri, police officer Blayne Newton. One of the plaintiffs lives in Kansas, another in Missouri, and three others are from Texas.

Court documents said that just before 10:05 p.m. on June 9, 2023, Fairchild was driving a minivan with Nelson in the front passenger seat and Thorns in the back passenger seat. While stopped at a red light at E. 31st and Van Brunt Blvd., Newton pulled up behind the vehicle in his patrol car and encountered an “armed riot.”

Newton claimed he saw a person in a pickup truck directly in front of the Fairchild van, hanging off the driver’s side with a rifle. He told the dispatcher to hold radio traffic while he loaded a magazine and noticed the van in a “crooked” position.

Court records show that when the light turned green, Newton began chasing the truck in the right lane, but when he passed the van, he stated that Nelson pulled out a firearm and began shooting.

At that point, records indicated that Newton shot Nelson, killing both him and Fairchild. He also “wounded” Thorn in the forehead. However, the people in the vehicle did not shoot at Newton at any point. There is no evidence to suggest that anyone in the van knew Newton was at the scene, and most of the incident was captured on video.

The plaintiffs sued Officer Newton for wrongful death by assault because he recklessly and intentionally shot her multiple times. Unreasonable and deadly force has been reported when there was no threat. A second charge of wrongful death was entered in the alternative by way of negligence.

The lawsuit also alleges Nelson’s death resulted from his exercise of his right to lawful self-defense against a person who was wielding a rifle.

The final two counts of the lawsuit allege battery and neglect alternatively on behalf of Thorn as Newton. The officer shot him in the head, even though he did not pose a threat. He has since undergone significant medical treatment, expenses, and permanent injuries.

Accordingly, court documents concluded that the plaintiffs requested that Newton be tried by jury for shooting their loved ones. John Picerno of JP Law is to represent the plaintiffs.

In another ongoing lawsuit, Newton was also charged with assault, battery, and false imprisonment following an incident at the Walmart at 8551 Boardwalk Ave. in Kansas City, Missouri, in 2022. He was wearing a KCPD uniform while working a break from his shift assignment. During the separate incident, plaintiff Bermeeka Mitchell began filming the events and notified officers.

However, court records indicate that Newton attempted to arrest Mitchell after she tried to enter the Walmart while still recording the incident. During the arrest, he was alleged to have used excessive force, causing injuries to her foot, back, arms, wrists and hands. At no point during the incident did she resist arrest, nor was she reasonably expected to do so.

According to a June 19 Platte County Circuit Court filing, officials were awaiting the return of Newton’s second motion to produce documents. Picerno also represents Mitchell in that case.

Authorities investigating officer-involved shooting near 31st and Van Brunt(KCTV5 News)