St. Joseph man sentenced to 18 years for gas station shooting in KC

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A St. Joseph, Mo. man, Matthew Whitmill, was sentenced to 18 years in prison Thursday for shooting a man at a Kansas City gas station in 2023.

According to the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office, Whitmill pleaded guilty to first-degree assault and armed criminal action.

On Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023, at about 11:45 p.m., a sergeant with the Kansas City Police Department driving northbound on Cleveland Avenue heard a gunshot to his east. When he looked in the direction of the shots, the officer saw Whitmill shoot a man two times in a gas station parking lot in Kansas City.

Court documents said that after being confronted by the on-duty officer, Whitmill jumped in his car and drove from the scene.

The officer then chased Whitmill several blocks and through residential neighborhoods before a tire-deflation device was used to stop Whitmill’s car.

After his car came to a stop, Whitmill surrendered by lying on the ground next to the car and was placed under arrest. Officers then searched his car and found a handgun with one live round in the chamber and five additional live rounds in the magazine.

According to court records, the victim was taken to University Health Medical Center where he was treated for a fracture to the left femur and a left occlusion of the superficial femoral artery in the thigh.

The number of gunshots that were fired at the left leg is unknown, but it was documented that his right leg suffered injuries from two gunshots.

After the shooting, the victim was unable to give a statement due to his injuries, but it was confirmed that he survived.

Whitmill was questioned by police following the incident. He claimed that he knew the victim from work and both individuals had been having heated arguments lately. He also described feeling intimidated due to the victim’s younger age and larger size.

Court documents said that at the gas station, the victim allegedly verbally threatened Whitmill while they were inside. This is what Whitmill said led to the shooting.

But, according to the gas station’s security camera footage, Whitmill pulled into the parking lot five minutes before the incident and shot the victim as he walked up from behind the car.

The probable cause statement revealed that Whitmill had received a Chemical Revocation after refusing a drug and alcohol test in 2008 and had been driving with a suspended license at the time of the shooting.

Whitmill was sentenced by a Jackson County judge on Thursday to 15 years for the assault and three years for the armed criminal action, resulting in a total sentencing of 18 years.

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