Left inset: Arel Dawkins (Greene County Jail). Right inset: Braisen Cain (GoFundMe). Background: The 4000 block of Morrell Avenue in Kansas City, Mo., where Dawkins allegedly ran over and shot Cain to death (Google Maps).
A Missouri man is accused of running over his pregnant ex-girlfriend and gunning her down last week, then blasting more than 20 rounds at the woman — allegedly reloading at one point after running out of bullets — following a “recent” breakup, cops say.
Arel Dawkins, of Blue Springs, is charged with first-degree murder for the shooting death of 42-year-old Braisen Cain last Wednesday in the 4000 block of Morrell Avenue, according to the Kansas City Police Department.
Dakwins” probable cause statement details how he fired off 21 rounds from a .40 caliber pistol while taking Cain’s life.
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Neighbors and acquaintances of hers spoke with cops and allegedly blamed Dawkins for the killing. One person allegedly caught him in a cell phone video “running over” Cain and shooting her “as she is lying” in a yard, according to the probable cause statement.
“The victim recently broke up with Arel and she was pregnant with Arel’s child,” the statement says, noting how Dawkins allegedly confessed to an old high school friend of his who gives him haircuts. “During the phone call Dawkins confessed to him that he had struck [Cain] with his vehicle before shooting her,” cops allege.
Video footage obtained by Kansas City police shows Dawkins getting out of the driver’s seat of his Ford F-150 “as the vehicle starts rolling backwards” after striking Cain, the probable cause statement says.
“Dawkins points a firearm at [Cain] as she is lying in the yard and shoots her several times at close range,” the statement charges. “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.”
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Cops say “several 911 calls” were received at the time from Dawkins’ family, claiming he contacted them and confessed to murder, along with threatening to die by suicide. Dawkins was later pointed out in a photographic lineup after he was located in Springfield through phone pinging by the police.
Dawkins was being held Sunday without bond in the Greene County Jail.
