A dispute over a firewood sale ended in deadly gunfire on February 10, 2021. Jonathan Lutz, 44, of Kansas City, Missouri, and his friend and business partner, 34-year-old Kalob Lawson, had delivered a cord of wood in unincorporated Platte County and disagreed with the buyer’s family about the quantity delivered. The buyer’s 22-year-old son pursued their vehicle to Highway 9 near Coffey Road. Both cars pulled to the shoulder and the son confronted Lutz and Lawson, accusing them of shorting his father.

According to investigative reports and statements later released by the prosecutor’s office, Lawson allegedly produced a handgun. The 22-year-old then retrieved a firearm from his vehicle and fired multiple rounds. Lawson was struck in the chest and face and died at the scene. Lutz was shot in the abdomen and shoulder, taken to a hospital, and later died of his injuries. The shooter left, called 911 from home to report and confess to the shooting, and then surrendered to authorities.

The case was presented to a Platte County grand jury, which reviewed claims the shooter acted in self-defense after seeing Lawson’s weapon. The grand jury declined to indict, and no criminal charges were filed; officials did not publicly release the shooter’s identity. Does anyone have information about the delivery, the confrontation on Highway 9, or the events at the residence earlier that day?