Lawson, Mo. (March 21, 2025) — Authorities have identified and arrested a suspect in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred in the early morning hours of Thursday, March 20, at a rural property near Lawson in Ray County. Brad Allen Vincent, 43, has been charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action in Ray County, as well as aggravated fleeing in Clay County after allegedly leading law enforcement on a high-speed pursuit.
According to court documents, deputies with the Ray County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a rural property shortly after 1:56 a.m. following reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, deputies found an unresponsive male inside a camper, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. CPR was administered, and the victim was transported to an area hospital, where he was later pronounced dead at 2:46 a.m.
A witness at the scene told deputies that she, the victim—her ex-boyfriend, and Vincent—her current boyfriend—had been inside the camper together earlier in the evening. According to her statement, the three had been talking in the bedroom and using methamphetamine when she briefly stepped outside to let the dog out. While outside, she received a series of concerning text messages from Vincent, including a cryptic reference to her “being light.”
When she reentered the camper and questioned Vincent, she realized her .380 handgun, which had been inside her bag, was missing. Moments later, she told investigators, Vincent shot the victim three times—once in the neck, once in the chest, and once in the collarbone. She said she then struggled with Vincent over the gun. She said Vincent removed the gun’s ammunition magazine and then relented control. She then laid the gun on the bed before calling 911. Vincent allegedly took the weapon and fled the scene before law enforcement arrived.
Investigators quickly cemented Vincent as the primary suspect and issued a broadcast alert with a description of his vehicle. Clay County deputies located the vehicle through license plate reader technology, and Liberty police attempted a traffic stop. Vincent fled southbound on I-35, leading law enforcement on a chase that continued westbound onto MO-152.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed in Clay County, the pursuit reached speeds of up to 80 mph. Kansas City Police deployed stop sticks near N. Brighton Avenue, slowing the vehicle. Vincent then attempted to cross the highway median into oncoming traffic but was blocked by a cable barrier. He exited the highway near Maplewoods Parkway, where his vehicle became stuck on a hill. Vincent, the sole occupant, was taken into custody without further incident.
While in custody at the Clay County Detention Center, Vincent declined to speak with investigators after being read his Miranda rights. However, according to Detective Katherine Dyer of the Ray County Sheriff’s Office, he did later ask, “Is she okay?” in reference to his girlfriend, and appeared visibly emotional after being told she was unharmed.
Vincent has been formally charged in Ray County with:
- Murder in the Second Degree (Felony A, RSMo 565.021)
- Armed Criminal Action (Unclassified Felony, RSMo 571.015)
In Clay County, he faces an additional charge of:
- Aggravated Fleeing a Stop or Detention (Felony D, RSMo 575.151)
He is currently being held without bond in the Clay County Detention Center. The Ray County Sheriff’s Office is leading the homicide investigation, with assistance from the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office.
The name of the victim has not yet been released, pending notification of family. The investigation remains ongoing.
*An edit was made to this article on March 21, 2025, at 7:02 PM, clarifying the relationship between the individuals involved in this incident and providing additional details about the alleged struggle over the firearm.
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