Saveion McConnell

May 1

Written By M T

19 years old · Lee's Summit, Missouri · May 1, 2026

Who he was

Saveion Edward McConnell was born August 19, 2006, in Kansas City, Missouri — home of the Chiefs. He was a child of God who openly confessed his faith in Christ. Growing up active in sports like baseball and football demonstrated his heart to work as a team. He loved sharing his joy for life with friends, and this could be seen in how he was able to bring people together on all occasions. His presence was uplifting, supportive, and loyal. He was a football and basketball player who graduated from Lee's Summit North High School in 2025. He was his mother's only son among four children. He was pursuing trade programs and exploring college opportunities, with so much life still ahead of him. He had gone to Warrensburg, Missouri, on the night of April 30 to attend a fraternity party with friends. He never came home. His mother Michelle Washington said: "19 years — not nearly long enough. But I thank God for the time that we had."

What happened

At approximately 2:00 a.m. on May 1, 2026, Johnson County Sheriff's deputies were called to a report of a 17-year-old girl found shot inside a vehicle near the intersection of Missouri Highway 131 and U.S. Highway 50, near Warrensburg. Saveion's uncle said everyone in the vehicle knew each other and that witnesses in the car told authorities the shooting was accidental. The Johnson County Sheriff's Office was told a suspect had fled on foot.

At approximately 3:53 a.m., Johnson County and Lafayette County deputies, along with an Odessa Police Department officer, saw two men walking near the intersection of U.S. Highway 50. A foot pursuit began. Missouri State Highway Patrol confirmed that a Lafayette County deputy struck McConnell with his patrol car during the pursuit. After McConnell got up off the pavement, he was shot multiple times and killed. MSHP confirmed that no weapon was recovered at the scene. He had never been charged with a crime.

Saveion's uncle Phillip Washington said eyewitnesses told him McConnell stopped when ordered to, raised his hands, and said "OK, OK" — and that is when the deputy shot him.

Contested record

MSHP disputed the hands-up account directly. Sgt. Justin Ewing wrote: "We understand there is information circulating that Mr. McConnell's hands were in the air at the time of the shooting. With the seriousness of this claim, and in discussion with the Johnson County Prosecutor's Office, we want to confirm this information is not accurate. A review of available body camera footage disputes this claim." MSHP declined to describe what the body camera footage shows beyond that single disputed point, and has not released a frame of it.

The family's civil rights attorneys at Romanucci & Blandin — who also won settlements for the families of George Floyd and Sonya Massey — stated: "Saveion should be alive today. Based on the facts we know so far, the deputy's use of deadly force appears completely unjustified. Saveion was an unarmed teenager. The deputy struck Saveion with his police car — using his vehicle as a weapon — moments before shooting Saveion to death. We do not believe Saveion posed any imminent threat that would have justified the use of deadly force."

His uncle Phillip Washington said: "It has to be acknowledged that we are looking at this as a hate crime with the details that have already been put out there." The Kansas City Defender noted that five weeks after McConnell's death, not a single headline in mainstream coverage carried the word "unarmed."

His mother stood in Lexington — the seat of Lafayette County — on June 12, 2026, and demanded charges and the release of the body camera footage. The deputy who fired faces no charges.

Pastor Ron Kelly, speaking at McConnell's funeral, said: "Too many of our Black sons are dying before they ever get a chance to live. Too many mothers are planning funerals when they should be planning futures." And: "Too many young Black men are being remembered for one moment instead of being valued for the fullness of their humanity.”

Legal process

May 1, 2026 — Saveion McConnell struck by a Lafayette County Sheriff's patrol car and shot multiple times near U.S. Highway 50, Pittsville, Missouri. Pronounced dead. No weapon recovered. Missouri State Highway Patrol opens investigation.

May 4, 2026 — Nearly 200 people gather at a Lee's Summit park for a balloon release. Michelle Washington speaks publicly for the first time. MSHP disputes hands-up account but refuses to release footage.

May 8, 2026 — KCTV5 submits Sunshine Law request for all body camera footage. Request remains pending.

May 15, 2026 — KSHB 41 reaches out to all departments for updates. Only MSHP responds: no updates.

May 19, 2026 — Funeral held for Saveion McConnell.

May 21, 2026 — Romanucci & Blandin announces civil investigation, calling the use of deadly force "completely unjustified."

June 12, 2026 — Michelle Washington holds rally at 1001 Main Street, Lexington, Missouri — the seat of Lafayette County — demanding charges and body camera footage release.

As of June 28, 2026 — MSHP investigation ongoing. Body camera footage withheld. Deputy unnamed and uncharged. Findings not yet referred to Johnson County Prosecutor. Civil investigation open.