A Missouri man is accused of running over his pregnant ex-girlfriend and shooting her to death last week, firing more than 20 rounds at her — allegedly reloading at one point after running out of bullets — following a “recent” breakup, according to police.
According to the Kansas City Police Department, Arel Dawkins of Blue Springs has been charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of 42-year-old Braisen Cain last Wednesday on the 4000 block of Morrell Avenue.
Dakwins’ probable cause statement describes how he fired 21 rounds from a.40 caliber pistol while killing Cain.
Her neighbors and acquaintances allegedly told cops that Dawkins was responsible for the killing. According to the probable cause statement, one person allegedly caught him on cell phone video “running over” Cain and shooting her “as she is lying” in a yard.
“The victim recently broke up with Arel and she was pregnant with Arel’s child,” the statement says, citing Dawkins’ alleged confession to an old high school friend who cuts his hair. “During the phone call Dawkins confessed to him that he had struck [Cain] with his vehicle before shooting her,” said the police.
According to the probable cause statement, video footage obtained by Kansas City police shows Dawkins exiting his Ford F-150’s driver’s seat “as the vehicle starts rolling backwards” after colliding with Cain.
“Dawkins points a firearm at [Cain] as she is lying in the yard and shoots her several times at close range,” according to the confession. “Dawkins then turns and walks towards the street and once he is in the street, he turned towards [Cain] and began firing at her again.”
Cops say “several 911 calls” were received at the time from Dawkins’ family, who claimed he contacted them and confessed to murder while also threatening suicide.
Dawkins was later identified in a photographic lineup after being located in Springfield via phone pinging by police.
Dawkins was held in the Greene County Jail on Sunday without bond.
