The Clay County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Blade Elliott, 20, of Kansas City, with first degree murder, two counts of felony armed criminal action and one count of felony attempted robbery after Kansas City police investigated a report of shots fired June 8 near Liberty in the Price Chopper parking lot at 9717 N. Ash Ave. in Kansas City.

*Blade Elliott, 20, of Kansas City, Missouri*

Police responded to the parking lot around 5:30 p.m. that evening and found Trinton Phillips, 21, of Excelsior Springs deceased in a black Kia Spectra.

According to the probable cause statement from Kansas City Police Department, Elliott allegedly made contact with Phillips via the Snapchat app for a suspected marijuana deal in the grocery store parking lot.

Phillips arrived in the grocery store parking lot with a passenger and Elliott was one of multiple passengers in a black Volkswagen.

“(A witness) stated that the suspect vehicle, a dark in color sedan with five occupants, parked in the space next to them on the west end parking lot in front of Price Chopper. (They) stated a white male wearing a dark colored shirt and dark shorts exited the driver’s side and entered into the rear passenger seat of the Kia Spectra,” reads the statement of probable cause. “… The white male suspect reached for the bag of marijuana, which was near the victim. (The witness) attempted to intervene and that is when (they) heard the white male suspect discharge three to four shots from the backseat. The suspects fled the scene in the suspect vehicle.”

According to police, surveillance footage from area businesses allegedly shows Elliott exit Phillips’ vehicle and reenter the back seat of the Volkswagen as it slowed after driving away.

According to the probable cause statement, the gun used in the shooting, a Glock model 45, was found in Elliott’s belongings.

KPGZ News - The Courier Tribune contributed to this report